Active Directory and DNS Health Check

Dcdiag.exe /v >> c:\Reports\pre_dcdiag.txt

This is a must and will always tell you if there is trouble with your DCs and/or services associated with it

Netdiag.exe /v >> c:\Reports\pre_Netdiag.txt

This will let me know if there are issues with the networking components on the DC.

Netsh dhcp show server >> c:\Reports\pre_dhcp.txt

Some may not do this but I've felt the pain of a DHCP server somehow not being authorized after a patch. This allows me verify the server count and names.

Repadmin /showreps >> c:\Reports\pre_rep_partners.txt

This shows all my replication and if it was successful or not. Just be aware that Global Catalogs will have more info here than a normal domain controller.

repadmin /replsum /errorsonly >> c:\Reports\pre_repadmin_err.txt

This is the one that always takes forever but will let you know who you are having issues replicating with.

DNSLINT is a good tool for checking your DNS


http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=dd7a00df-1a5b-4fb6-a8a6-657a7968bd11

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc976711.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/confirmation.aspx?FamilyID=CB42FC06-50C7-47ED-A65C-862661742764

Risk and Health Assessment Program for Active Directory (ADRAP) – Scoping Tool v1.6

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=22205827-C164-4B62-9F8D-C3CD6077BD82

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=67240B76-3148-4E49-943D-4D9EA7F77730

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.2 (for IT Professionals)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=02BE8AEE-A3B6-4D94-B1C9-4B1989E0900C

Microsoft Exchange Best Practices Analyzer v2.8
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=DBAB201F-4BEE-4943-AC22-E2DDBD258DF3

Microsoft Active Directory Topology Diagrammer
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/confirmation.aspx?FamilyID=CB42FC06-50C7-47ED-A65C-862661742764

Microsoft Office Visio 2007 Professional Add-In for Rack Server Virtualization (Virtual Rack)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=3250331A-0116-4064-92D1-50B9B0727B75

Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=7D2F6AD7-656B-4313-A005-4E344E43997D

Microsoft Exchange Server User Monitor
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=9A49C22E-E0C7-4B7C-ACEF-729D48AF7BC9