DC Locator Status Test

When an application requests access to Active Directory, an Active Directory server (domain controller) is located by a mechanism called the domain controller locator (DC Locator). Locator is an algorithm that runs in the context of the Net Logon service. Locator can find domain controllers by using DNS names (for IP or DNS-compatible computers) or by using Network Basic Input/Output System (NetBIOS) names, or it can be used on a network where IP transport is not available. If the DC Locator process/algorithm is unable to locate the domain controller, dependent applications will be denied access to Active Directory. This can cause application performance to suffer. To avoid this, administrators must periodically check whether/not the DC Locator process is able to locate the Active Directory server. This can be achieved using the DC Locator Status test.

Periodically, this test invokes the DC Locator algorithm/process to check whether/not it is able to locate the AD server being monitored. The success/failure of the DC location process is then reported.

Target of the test : An Active Directory

Agent deploying the test : An internal agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results for every Active Directory site that is being monitored

Configurable parameters for the test

Parameters	Description
Test period	This indicates how often should the test be executed.
Host	The IP address of the machine where the Active Directory is installed.
Port	The port number through which the Active Directory communicates. The default port number is 389.

Measurements made by the test

Measurement	Description	Measurement Unit	Interpretation
Status	Indicates whether/not the DC locator process located the Active Directory server.	Percent	This measure reports the value 100 to indicate that DC location is successful. The value 0 is reported if DC location fails.