Root and child domain controllers same subnet

active-directory

We are planning the following AD topology:

  • ourcompany.com
    • east.ourcompany.com
    • west.ourcompany.com

The main root domain controllers and east.ourcompany.com domain controllers will exist in the same head office datacentre location:

dc1.ourcompany.com
dc2.ourcompany.com
dc1.east.ourcompany.com
dc2.east.ourcompany.com

west.ourcompany.com will be on a different subnet (and country) all together.

Do the head office domain controllers (the root and child domain) also need to be on a seperate subnet? I assume they do, unless we provide some kind of unique netbios names (and if so any recommendations for naming the above)?

Best Answer

This may not be a technical answer, but I personally always prefix server names with some form of site code. It can, admittedly, make the FQDN a little unweildy especially if the domain name is similar to the prefix, but perhaps something like this:

Head Office = HO-DC01 & HO-DC02

West Coast = WC-DC01 & W-DC02

East Coast = EC-DC01 & E-DC02

So, you end up with HO-DC01.ourcompany.com, along with EC-DC01.east.ourcompany.com and WC-DC01.west.ourcompany.com

With the added benefit that everything still makes perfect logical sense (And works!) even when not referencing using a FQDN.