Sunday, August 21, 2011

Using Active Directory Load Balancing tool (ADLB) to rebalance inbound connections for Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 domain controllers

In pre-Windows Server 2008 R2, inbound connections from sites typically targeted one domain controller in the hub site with requests.

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Remark: Every domain controller installed Windows Server 2003 is  a bridgehead server in my lab.

For more information for Bridgehead Server selection improvements, please read the following articles:

Bridgehead server selection

Bridgehead Server Selection Improvements in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2

To solve the above problem, we can run the "Active Directory Load Balancing" tool to rebalance inbound connections in the hub site.

When should we use Active Directory Load Balancing tool?

According to the document, Planning the Physical Structure for a Branch Office Deployment, of Microsoft , if the number of sites is greater than 50 and less than or equal to 200, you should use the ADLB tool.

As soon as you begin your deployment, you can start using ADLB to keep your intersite replication optimized as you continue to add more sites. Use ADLB to optimize your site replication whenever your environment is changing, such as during the deployment process. After you are finished making all of the changes, however, you should stop using ADLB on a daily basis and run it only as needed. For example, during deployment operations, set up a scheduled task to run ADLB once a day. After you have finished the deployment, remove the task from the schedule.

Active Directory Load Balancing tool is included in Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit.

Download link:

How to use it
1. Download and install Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit in a domain controller being in Hub site.
2. Launch the "Command Shell" of Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit.
3. Perform "adlb /server:%computername% /site:<Hub Site Name> /log:C:\adlb.txt /v


4. Launch "Active Directory Sites and Services" to verify the result.

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As a result, the inbound connections are rebalanced.

This posting is provided “AS IS” with no warranties, and confers no rights!

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