Changes to Domain Group Initiates Full Domain Synchronization (230525)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
This article was previously published under Q230525

SYMPTOMS

When a change is made to a group in a Windows NT 2000 mixed-mode domain (where domain controllers have different versions of Windows NT), the Windows NT 3.51 domain controllers attempt to complete a full domain security account manager (SAM) synchronization instead of just replicating the change.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:
   Date       Time     Size      File name      Platform
   -------------------------------------------------------------
   05/11/99   05:23p   150,576   Netlogon.dll   x86
   05/11/99   05:26p   229,136   Netlogon.dll   Alpha

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

In Windows NT, changes to the SAM database that are replicated across the domain are given a unique serial number. For example, a change with a specific serial number may represent a change in group membership of a particular group. Another change with a different specific serial number may represent a change in a group attribute.

In Windows NT 3.51 and Windows NT 4.0, there exists a mechanism to propagate group renames. Specifically, if change number N represented a group rename on a primary domain controller (PDC), the backup domain controller (BDC) would get three changes (or deltas) replicated to it. The first delta contains the new name of the account. After the BDC processes this delta, it expects the next delta to be delta number N+1. But the PDC sends the BDC a delta saying "the next delta is delta N". The PDC then sends the BDC another delta containing the group membership of the group.

Windows NT 3.51 does not correctly support the "next delta is delta N" change feature. This causes the BDC to perform a full SAM database synchronization.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/19/2005
Keywords:kbbug kbfix kbnetwork KB230525
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