An update for Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000 Server makes it possible to put the logon server at the top of the DFS referrals list (831201)

INTRODUCTION

This article describes an update to Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows 2000 Server. This update makes it possible to configure the order of domain controllers that are displayed in the list of Microsoft Distributed File System (DFS) referrals. These referrals are returned to a client computer for the system volume. This update makes it possible to put the logon server at the top of the list.

Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000 group policies are stored in the system volume network share. The system volume is a domain-based DFS root, and each domain controller in the domain hosts a link replica of the share. To locate the system volume, a client computer queries the logon server for a list of DFS link replicas. The logon server returns a list of all servers in DFS that host the system volume. This list is in random order. Servers that are located in the same site that the client computer is located in are put at the top of the list. A user can be authenticated by one domain controller, and can download policies from another domain controller in the site.

The update that is described in this article modifies the default behavior. After you apply this update, the logon server is added to the top of the list of DFS referrals for the system volume that is returned to the client computer. To use the feature that is included in the update, you must edit the registry. To do this, see the "Edit the registry to use this feature" section.

MORE INFORMATION

After you install and enable this hotfix, DNS SVC record priorities are used to provide sysvol and netlogon referrals. If the hotfix is enabled, the high priority domain controller is moved to the top of the referral list. For additional information about DFS referral ordering, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/dfsfaq.mspx#EGAAA

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Windows Server 2003 hotfix information

A supported feature that modifies the product's default behavior is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to modify the behavior that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that specifically require it. This feature may receive additional testing. Therefore, if your system is not severely affected by the lack of this feature, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows Server 2003 service pack that contains this feature.

To obtain this feature immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[LN];CNTACTMS

Prerequisites

This hotfix should be installed on domain controllers with high priority SVC records.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.Windows Server 2003, 32-bit editions

   Date         Time   Version          Size  File name
   -----------------------------------------------------
   12-Feb-2004  00:47  5.2.3790.127  137,216  Dfssvc.exe
   12-Feb-2004  00:31  5.2.3790.127   32,768  Dfs.sys

Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems

   Date         Time   Version       Size     File name    Platform
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
   11-Feb-2004  23:32  5.2.3790.127   97,792  Dfs.sys
   11-Feb-2004  23:32  5.2.3790.127  461,824  Dfssvc.exe   IA-64
   11-Feb-2004  23:47  5.2.3790.127  137,216  Wdfssvc.exe  x86

Windows 2000 hotfix information

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.

Prerequisites

This hotfix requires Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4). This hotfix should be installed on domain controllers with high priority SRV records.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

   Date         Time   Version        Size    File name
   ----------------------------------------------------
   03-Dec-2003  22:01  5.0.2195.6877  75,504  Dfs.sys

Edit the registry to use this feature

To use the feature that is described in this article, add the PreferLogonDC registry entry to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dfs registry subkey on each domain controller that you plan to update, set the value of the PreferLogonDC registry entry to 1, and then restart the domain controller. We recommend that you modify the registry before you install the hotfix so that you only have to restart your computer one time.

To add the PreferLogonDC registry entry and set the PreferLogonDC registry entry to 1, follow these steps:

Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dfs
On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value..
Type PreferLogonDC, and then press ENTER.
On the Edit menu, click Modify.
In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK
Quit Registry Editor.

For more information about how hotfix packages are named, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

816915 New file naming schema for Microsoft Windows software update packages

For more information about the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates