what does exactly infrastructure master role do?

Question

The Infrastructure Master role is responsible for updating references from one object to another in remote domain. It compares it's data with the GC. So it is dependent on the GC.

Is it possible to assign Infrastructure Master role to a GC server?

my question is that Microsoft could unite this two roles together and the infrastructure master role is not necessary and the GC can play infrastructure master role . Does infrastructure master role have any other responsibility except updating object references ?

Solution

Yes, it can be on a gc. For example, as a best practice, all dc's should be a gc, so in that case it would have to be on a gc.

Also, when the Recycle Bin optional feature is enabled, every DC is responsible for updating its cross-domain object references in the event that the referenced object is moved, renamed, or deleted. In this case, there are no tasks associated with the Infrastructure FSMO role, and it is not important which domain controller owns the Infrastructure Master role.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc223753.aspx

Comments

[Philip]

@MichaelHampton That question does answer if an IM can be on a GC server, but doesn't really say why (other than it "will not function correctly" in certain circumstances)

[Hadi Nemati]

I mean the both replications can be unite together.

[MDMarra]

Actually, common practice is to make all DCs into GCs as well. Not having the IM on a GC is a legacy recommendation from the times of 56k WAN links where you want to reduce replication overhead. Also, when you enable the AD recycle bin, the IM ceases to function. Modern best practice is to just have all DCs be GCs and not worry about IM placement.