How do I create a custom application partition in my domain?

A. Windows Server 2003 introduced the option of creating additional application partitions, two of which can be used for DNS. You can use the NTDSUTIL command to see the partitions. The sample commands below (for savilltech.net) were written for Windows Server 2008. If you're using Windows 2003, you don’t need to include the ACTIVE INSTANCE NTDS command, and you would use DOMAIN MANAGEMENT instead of PARTITION MANAGEMENT.

ntdsutil: activate instance ntds
Active instance set to "ntds".
ntdsutil: partition management
partition management: connections
Connected to \savdaldc01.savilltech.net using credentials of locally logged on user.
server connections: connect to server savdaldc01.savilltech.net
Disconnecting from \savdaldc01.savilltech.net...
Binding to savdaldc01.savilltech.net ...
Connected to savdaldc01.savilltech.net using credentials of locally logged on user.
server connections: quit
partition management: list
Note: Directory partition names with International/Unicode characters will onlydisplay correctly if appropriate fonts and language support are loadedFound 5 Naming Context(s)
0 - CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=net
1 - CN=Schema,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=net
2 - DC=savilltech,DC=net
3 - DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=savilltech,DC=net
4 - DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=savilltech,DC=net

Notice that partitions 3 and 4 are application partitions used for DNS data storage.

Typically, applications will create the custom application partitions. however, if you want to create the partitions on your own, or just experiment, use the NTDSUTIL command. While you're in NTDSUTIL partition/domain management, use the CREATE NC command similar to the model code below. The partition must be a DC= name for the application partition.

partition management: create nc dc=app1,dc=savilltech,dc=net
savdaldc01.savilltech.net
adding object dc=app1,dc=savilltech,dc=net
partition management: list
Note: Directory partition names with International/Unicode characters will onlydisplay correctly if appropriate fonts and language support are loadedFound 6 Naming Context(s)
0 - CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=net
1 - CN=Schema,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=net
2 - DC=savilltech,DC=net
3 - DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=savilltech,DC=net
4 - DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=savilltech,DC=net
5 - DC=app1,DC=savilltech,DC=net

To remove a partition, use the DELETE NC command. To view all the servers replicating a partition, use the LIST NC REPLICA command, as you see below.

partition management: list nc replica "dc=app1,dc=savilltech,dc=net"
The application directory partition dc=app1,dc=savilltech,dc=net's Replicas are:

CN=NTDS
Settings,CN=SAVDALDC01,CN=Servers,CN=Dallas,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=net

To add a new replicate, use the ADD NC REPLICA command, similar to the sample code below:

partition management: add nc replica "dc=app1,dc=savilltech,dc=net"
savdaldc02.savilltech.net
partition management: list nc replica "dc=app1,dc=savilltech,dc=net"
The application directory partition dc=app1,dc=savilltech,dc=net's Replicas are:

CN=NTDS Settings,CN=SAVDALDC01,CN=Servers,CN=Dallas,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=net
CN=NTDS Settings,CN=SAVDALDC02,CN=Servers,CN=Dallas,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=net *
The *'ed items are currently uninstantiated replicas.

The uninstantiated status will be removed once the servers replicate the partition data. To remove a replicated partition, use the REMOVE NC REPLICA (partition) (dc) command.