JSI Tip 3877. Is there an alternate method for defragmenting the Active Dirrectory?

The preferred method for defragmenting the Active Directory is to use the Ntdsutil tool.

The Exchange Server ESENTUTL tool defragments database files. Open a CMD prompt and type:

ESENTUTL /D ntds.dit [options].

Typing ESENTUTL /? returns:

Microsoft(R) Windows(TM) Database Utilities Version 6.0Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation 1991-1999.  All Rights Reserved.DESCRIPTION:  Maintenance utilities for Microsoft(R) Windows databases.MODES OF OPERATION:   Defragmentation:  ESENTUTL /d  [options]          Recovery:  ESENTUTL /r [options]         Integrity:  ESENTUTL /g  [options]           Upgrade:  ESENTUTL /u  /d [options]         File Dump:  ESENTUTL /m[mode-modifier]             Repair:  ESENTUTL /p  [options]<<<<<  Press a key for more help  >>>>>D=Defragmentation, R=Recovery, G=Integrity, U=Upgrade, M=File Dump, P=Repair=>DEFRAGMENTATION/COMPACTION:    DESCRIPTION:  Performs off-line compaction of a database.         SYNTAX:  ESENTUTL /d  [options]     PARAMETERS:   - filename of database to compact        OPTIONS:  zero or more of the following switches, separated by a space:                  /l - location of log files (default: current directory)                  /s - location of system files (eg. checkpoint file)                             (default: current directory)                  /b   - make backup copy under the specified name                  /t   - set temp. database name (default: TEMPDFRG.EDB)                  /p       - preserve temporary database (ie. don't instate)                  /o       - suppress logo          NOTES:  1) Before defragmentation begins, soft recovery is always                     performed to ensure the database is in a consistent state.                  2) If instating is disabled (ie. /p), the original database                     is preserved uncompacted, and the temporary database will                     contain the defragmented version of the database.