How to do it...

Perform these steps to enable a domain controller to be configured as a global catalog server:

1. Open Active Directory Sites and Services (dssite.msc).
2. In the left navigation pane, expand Sites.
3. Expand the Active Directory site where the domain controller resides.
4. Expand the Servers node.
5. Expand the domain controller you want to enable as a global catalog.
6. Right-click the NTDS Settings node underneath the domain controller.
7. Select Properties.
8. On the General tab, check the option next to Global Catalog.
9. Click OK.
10. Close Active Directory Sites and Services.

In environments with Microsoft Exchange Server, reboot the domain controller after enabling it as a global catalog. Otherwise, the global catalog will not be functioning from the point of view of the Microsoft Exchange Server.

Perform these steps to disable a domain controller to be configured as a global catalog server:

1. Open Active Directory Sites and Services (dssite.msc).
2. In the left navigation pane, expand Sites.
3. Expand the Active Directory site where the domain controller resides.
4. Expand the Servers node.
5. Expand the Domain controller you want to enable as a global catalog.
6. Right-click the NTDS Settings node underneath the domain controller. Select Properties.
7. On the General tab, uncheck the option next to Global Catalog.
8. Click OK.
9. Close Active Directory Sites and Services.