If you encounter a failed domain controller that you cannot bring back up (e.g., multiple hard disks fail), you have two options for restoring it. One option is to remove the domain controller completely from Active Directory and then repromote it back in. This is known as the restore from replication method, because you are essentially bringing up a brand new domain controller and will let replication restore all the data on the server. On Windows Server 2003 domain controllers, you can also use the install from media to expedite this process.

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The DHCP database contains all the scope information, reservations, leases, and options. The server also backs up a portion of the DHCP Server registry key, which contain settings related to database path and audit logs among other global settings. Most of these registry values can be set with netsh. Run netsh dhcp server set /? to get a list.

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