A Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC) is a new type of domain controller in Windows Server 2008. Its main purpose is to improve security in office branches. In this post, I summarize the functionality of RODC.
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In office branches, it is often not easy to provide sufficient physical security for servers. It is not a big deal to manipulate a Windows system if you can get physical access to it. Since Domain controllers store security sensitive data, they are particularly endangered. RODCs can help with this problem in four ways:
RODC essentials
- Read-only feature: An intruder on the RODC can't manipulate the Active Directory database.
- DNS protection: If the RODC server hosts a DNS server, the intruder won't be able to tamper with the DNS data.
- Password protection: A malicious user won't be able to access passwords using a brute-force-attack. This applies only if password caching is disabled on the RODC.
- Administrator Role Separation: You can delegate a local Administrator role to a domain user.
Read-only Domain Controller
- An RODC holds all Active Directory objects and attributes.
- RODCs only support unidirectional replication of Active Directory changes (i.e., from the forest to the RODC).
- If an application needs write access to Active Directory objects, the RODC will send an LDAP referral response that redirects the application to a writable domain controller.
DNS Protection
- A DNS server running on an RODC doesn't support dynamic updates.
- If a client wants to update its DNS record, the RODC will send a referral for a writeable DNS server.
- The client can then update against this DNS server.
- This single record will then be replicated from the writable DNS server to the RODC DNS server.
Password Protection
- By default, an RODC doesn't store user or computer credentials. (The only exception is the computer account of the RODC itself and a special krbtgt account.)
- However, an RODC can cache passwords.
- If a password isn't cached, the RODC will forward the authentication request to a writeable DC.
- The Password Replication Policy determines the user groups for which passwords caching will be allowed (more about this in my next post).
Administrator Role Separation:
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- A domain user having the Administrator role on an RODC doesn't have to be a domain admin.
- A domain user having the Administrator role can do maintenance work on the RODC such as installing software.
- If an intruder gains access to the credentials of this local administrator account, he will not be able to make changes on other domain controllers.
In my next post, I will explain how to install and configure an RODC.
Yeah, this is one of the features i’m really looking forward to. (And restartable AD:DS)
It makes branch office management so much easier.
I am not yet 100% convinced of this new feature. Am going to write about my doubts soon. A post about restartable AD DS is in preparation, too.
What makes you doubt this feature?
Of course it’s usefulness will depend on your company structure, but it makes deploying DCs on small sites possible.
It increases the complexity of your network. I am not sure yet if the advantages of an RODC are enough compensation for that. I have to play more with it to make up my mind, though.
Sounds great but there is one problem: It windows, so there will be enough loopholes and bugs to abuse 😀
Is that true that to install RODC server we should have Data center server 2008 as main DC?
Can we use Enterprise Server 2008 for deploying RODC?
TIA
Mo
Mohit, no you only require at least one writable Windows Server 2008 domain controller. You can use the enterprise edition but it also works with the standard edition.
Can you have multiple RODC servers (all at diferent sites) and have the writable DC as Small Business Server 2008?
Hi Michael Pietroforte,
Thanks for adivce Mate.
A quick one for you can you also suggest which remote session is best and stable among HP ILO2 and Dell DRAC6?
would appreciate your adivce on it.
hello MOHIT,
my preference are dell servers with idrac.
Ilo2 is very very old…if you have ilo2 servers that would be over 8 years old…you should update their firmware.
I believe that dell has idrac9 or 10's out now.
Dell just supports their product better with warranty history, drivers etc.
Hp just tells me that warranty has expired…I don't get that…..
thanks,
Howard
I just wanted to share that when I log on the RODC with enterprise admin credentials, it no more works as an RODC, rather it starts working as R/W DC. Is it normal?
Or I am making some mistake in configuring RODC??
Vivek,
that is normal. it has to be writeable in order to promote that server to be a domain controller.
You still have to tell it to be a RODC during the DC promotion on 2012 and 2016 servers.
thx
Howard
can u just tell me in brief what is the new 10 features in 2008 & elaborate it please which could make me easy to explain to others?
Hi Suchi,
You can use the below link for your question,
http://blogs.technet.com/b/tangent_thoughts/archive/2012/03/01/comparing-windows-server-2008-r2-and-server-core-roles-and-features.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage
Hi Vicky,
I want to know about the ESX & its version,differece in old & new version of ESX server also want to know about the cluster & slots…..please help me on it.