Identify or Transfer the Naming Master Role

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

Each Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) instance that belongs to a given configuration set operates with equal authority. However, certain activities that are performed with a given configuration set should only be performed by a single AD LDS instance. One of these activities includes instance naming management that prevents conflicting directory partition names. The AD LDS instance that holds the naming master role controls the addition and removal of directory partitions, or naming contexts, in a given configuration set. Each configuration set can contain only one naming master. AD LDS assigns this role automatically. You can also reassign this role, as may be required; for example, if an AD LDS instance that holds this operations master roles stops responding or goes offline.

You can use this procedure to identify or transfer the naming master role.

Membership in the AD LDS Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).

To identify or transfer the naming master role

1. To open a command prompt, click Start, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator.

2. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

   dsmgmt

3. At the dsmgmt: command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

   roles

4. At the fsmo maintenance: command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

   connections

5. At the server connections: command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

   connect to server <servername:portnumber>

   where <servername:portnumber> is the computer name and communications port number of the AD LDS instance that you want to use as the new naming master.

6. At the server connections: command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

   quit

7. At the fsmo maintenance: command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

   transfer naming master

For help with dsmgmt, type ? at a dsmgmt prompt. For more information, see Dsmgmt (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=122613).