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Prepare a domain controller for nonauthoritative SYSVOL restart

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Initiate a nonauthoritative restore of SYSVOL by modifying the value of the BurFlags (backup/restore flags) registry entry. Changing the value to D2 (hexadecimal) or 210 (decimal) prior to disconnecting a domain controller initiates an automatic nonauthoritative restore of SYSVOL when the domain controller is restarted. This process results in a smaller database size and improved synchronization time because the domain controller does not reconcile and process every deletion and modification that took place from the time of the last SYSVOL update to the time the domain controller is restarted in the new site, thereby improving synchronization time. Instead, it processes only the latest changes.

Separate entries exist for global and replica-set-specific BurFlags, as follows:

  • To initiate a nonauthoritative restart of SYSVOL when it is the only replica set that is represented on the domain controller, set the value of the global BurFlags (REG_DWORD) entry under

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NtFrs\Parameters\Backup/Restore\Process at Startup

  • If other replica sets are represented on the domain controller and you want to update only SYSVOL, set the value of the replica-set-specific BurFlags (REG_DWORD) entry under

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NtFrs\Parameters\Cumulative Replica Sets\SYSVOL GUID

Modifying the replica-set-specific BurFlags entry requires identifying the SYSVOL GUID in the registry.

Warning

The Registry Editor bypasses standard safeguards, allowing settings that can damage your system or even require you to reinstall Windows. If you must edit the registry, back up system state first. For information about backing up system state, see Administering Active Directory Backup and Restore.

Administrative Credentials

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Domain Admins group in Active Directory.

To prepare a domain controller for nonauthoritative SYSVOL restart

  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit and then click OK.

  2. Navigate to

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NtFrs\Parameters

  3. Expand Parameters.

  4. Modify one of the BurFlags entries as follows:

    To modify the global BurFlags entry:

    1. Expand Backup/Restore and then click Process at Startup.

    2. In the details pane, right-click BurFlags and click Modify.

    3. In the Value data box, type D2 hexadecimal or 210 decimal.

    4. Click OK and close Registry Editor.

    To modify the replica-set-specific BurFlags entry:

    1. Expand both Cumulative Replica Sets and Replica Sets.

    2. Match the GUID under Replica Sets to the identical GUID under Cumulative Replica Sets, and click the matching GUID under Cumulative Replica Sets.

    3. In the details pane, right click BurFlags and click Modify.

    4. In the Value data box, type D2 hexadecimal or 210 decimal.

    5. Click OK and close Registry Editor.