Determining Global Catalog Readiness
Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2
After replication of the partial domain directory partitions is complete, the domain controller advertises itself as a global catalog server and begins accepting queries. Advertising begins when the occupancy level for partial domain directory partition replication has been reached. The default occupancy level requires that all partial domain directory partitions have been replicated.
Warning
If you lower the occupancy level, the domain controller advertises itself as a global catalog server before it has complete information from all domains in the forest. In this case, it might return false information to applications that begin using the server for Address Book lookup and forest-wide searches.
You can use the procedures in this task to determine if a domain controller is ready to begin advertising itself as a global catalog server.
Task requirements
The following tools are required to perform the procedures for this task:
Ldp.exe
Nltest.exe
DNS snap-in
To complete this task, perform the following procedures: