HOW TO: Change the Default Selection in the Active Directory Manager Snap-in

This article describes how to select a different domain controller from the command line or within the snap-in. When you start the Active Directory Users and Computers Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in, a particular Windows 2000 domain controller is selected. Actions taken by the administrator, such as creating users, occur on the domain controller that is selected by default. These changes are then replicated to other domain controllers by the Active Directory replication process. The domain that is selected is the domain of the currently logged-on user, and a domain controller for that domain is selected by default.

Specify the Domain Controller Before Starting the Snap-in

1. To specify the domain controller to be used before starting the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in, use the "/SERVER=" switch as a parameter to the MMC saved console (.msc) file. In the process of connecting to the server, the domain of which the controller is a member is automatically detected. For example, either from a command prompt or in the Open box, type:
   dsa.msc /server=dc-01.domain.com

Specify the Domain Controller Within the Snap-in

To specify the domain controller to be used after starting the snap-in:

1. Right-click the root node in the left pane of the snap-in named Active Directory Users and Computers [ServerName], and then click Connect to Domain Controller.
2. Specify the name of the domain controller in the Change to box, or click a domain controller in the Available controllers in DomainName.com list, where DomainName.com is the actual name of the domain, and then click OK.

Specify the Domain Before Starting the Snap-in

1. To specify the domain to be used before starting the snap-in, use the "/DOMAIN=" switch as a parameter to the MMC saved console (.msc) file. A domain controller for the domain specified is located automatically and used as the default domain controller. For example, either from a command prompt or in the Open box, type:
   dsa.msc /domain=childdomain.domain.com

Specify the Domain Within the Snap-in

To specify the domain to be used after starting the snap-in:

1. Right-click the root node in the left pane of the snap-in named Active Directory Users and Computers [ServerName], and then click Connect to Domain.
2. Specify the name of the domain in the Domain box, or click Browse to see a graphical view of domains from which to select, and then click OK.