Exchange upgrade fails due to a replication issue

exchangeexchange-2013windows-server-2012-r2

I'm trying to upgrade an exchange 2013 server to CU18, but it's currently failing.

The error is…

The server side error is: 0x21a2 The FSMO role ownership could not be
verified because its directory partition has not replicated
successfully with at least one replication partner.

Now this is a standalone server, however it originally did have a partner, but we ended up scrapping that.

I can see in active directory sites and services that it lists both itself and the server that was going to be its replica.

Can i just right click and delete that server from sites and services to proceed does anyone know?

I've had a bit of a search and everything suggests that i fix the replication before continuing… well thats easier said than done as the server that was going to be the replica doesnt exist any more.

any help appriciated.

Best Answer

Looks like you'll want to do the following for the server that has been removed:

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/canitpro/2016/02/17/step-by-step-removing-a-domain-controller-server-manually/

Step 1: Cleaning up metadata via Active Directory Users and Computers

  1. Log in to DC server as Domain/Enterprise administrator and navigate to Server Manager > Tools > Active Directory Users and Computers
  2. Expand the Domain > Domain Controllers
  3. Right click on the DC server that need to remove manually and click delete
  4. In next dialog box, click yes to confirm
  5. In next dialog box, select This Domain Controller is permanently offline and can no longer be demoted using the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard (DCPROMO) and click Delete
  6. If the domain controller is global catalog server, in next window click yes to continue with deletion
  7. If the domain controller holds any FSMO roles in next window, click ok to move them to the domain controller which is available

Step 2: Cleaning up the DC server instance from the Active Directory Sites and Services

  1. Go to Server manager > Tools > Active Directory Sites and Services
  2. Expand the Sites and go to the server which need to remove
  3. Right click and click Delete
  4. In next window click yes to confirm

Step 3: Clean up metadata using ntdsutil

NOTE: Windows Server 2003 or earlier used ntdsutil and was bit of challenge but this was later simplified

  1. Right Click on Start > Command Prompt (admin)
  2. Type ntdsutil and enter
  3. Then metadata cleanup
  4. Next type remove selected server <servername>, replace <servername> with DC server to remove
  5. In warning window click yes to proceed
  6. Execute quit command twice
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