BurFlags – D4

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Reinitializing/Forcing File Replication Service FRS using Registry key BurFlags D4:

Have you been in the situation where you’re unable to replicate AD changes made across 2003 Domain Controllers? I have been there several times, and the last time was when I was attempting to transfer the Global Catalog role for an Exchange Server migration, however any AD changes I had made never replicated across DCs. Also had failing SYSVOL replication problems. The only thing that worked for me was when I did an Authoritative FRS restore by changing the BurFlags registry key to D4 and then restarting the File Replication service – that was done on the DC that had replication and SYSLOG issues.

BurFlags registry key contains REG_DWORD values, and is located in the following location in the registry:
“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NtFrs\Parameters\ Backup/Restore\Process at Startup”

The most common values for the BurFlags registry key are:

D2: also known as a non-authoritative mode restore.
D4: also known as an authoritative mode restore.

Changing the BurFlags key to D4 will reinitialize replication.

For more instructions, please refer to the following Knowledgebase article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290762

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