Domain Controller Installation - Step by Step

Once you install the AD DS role , the files required to perform the role are installed on the server .However, in this case, the server is still not promoted to a DC, You must therefore promote the server to act as a DC by launching the Active Directory Domain Services Installed Wizard by using the dcpromo.exe command.

Lets perform the following steps to promote the server to a DC and create a abc.com forest :

1. Click Start --> Run . The Run dialog box opens.

2. Type the dcpromo.exe command in the run dialog box and click the OK button.

   - The Active directory Domain Services binaries start installing -
 The Welcome to the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard page of Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard appears.

3. Click the Next button.

   - The Operating System Compatibility page appears.

4. Click the Next button.

   - Then Choose a Deployment Configuration page appears. -
5. Select the Create Domain in a new forest radio button and click the Next button.

 - Then Name the Forest Root Domain page appears.

6. Type the complete DNS name of your domain .In this case ,I type abc.com and click the Next button.

- The computer checks to confirm that the DNS and the NetBIOS names on the network , are not in use.

After the verification process , the Set Forest Functional Level page appears

7. Select the Windows Server 2008 option from the Forest functional level drop-down list. The details relating to each of the functional levels are displayed in the Details section of the page . Selecting Windows Server2008 domain functional level, thereby enabling all the new features of Windows Server 2008.

8. Click the Next button.

  - The Additional Domain Controller Option page appears. Notice that the DNS server cehck box is selected by default.The wizard , during the AD DS installation process , creates the DNS infrastructure.
In the Additional Domain Controller Option page , also notice that the Global catalog check box is selected and disabled. Similarly, the Read-only Domain Controller (RODC) check box is clear and disabled .This is because the first DC within a forest must always be a global catalog (GC) server and cannot be an RODC.

9. Click the Next button.

  - A static IP assignement message box appears.

10. Click the Yes, computer will use a dynamically assigned IP address (not recommended) button.

  - Active Directory Domain Service Installation Wizard message box appaers stating that you will have to create delegation for this server.

11. Click the Yes button.

 - The Location for Database, Log files , and SYSVOL page appears , Notice that default locations are specified for the database file , directory service log files , and SYSVOL files.In a production environment , it is best to store these files in three different volumes that contain on application or files related to AD DS.

12. Click the Next button.

 - The Directory Service Restore Mode Administrator Password page appears.

13. Type a password in both the Password and confirm and Confirm password text boxes. This password is used to restore AD in case it is lost or correpted.

14. Click the Next button after the password is confirmed.

   - The summary page appears, displaying a summary of the selections you made so far. In case you want to make any corrections, click the Back button.
15. Click the Next button.

 - The configuratin process of AD DS starts, after the AD DS installation is complete , you are required to reboot the computer, which can also be done by selecting the Reboot on completion check box.After you have succcessfully created a forest and rebooted the computer, you can view the Server Manager Console to view the newly created forest.

( After creating a Domain Controller , you can now create users in the domain )