Install and Configure Active Directory

A Domain Controller (DC) allows the creation of logical containers. These containers consist of users, computers and groups. The Domain Controllers also help in organizing and managing the Servers.

Active Directory is a service which runs on the Domain Controller. One uses this service to create logical containers.

Follow the steps below to setup the Active Directory services and promote it to a Domain Controller.

This example uses the following information:
Root domain name: AD.GPFS.NET
Password: Admin1234
NetBIOS domain name: AD0
  1. Navigate to the Windows Server Manager.
  2. Click Add Roles and Features.
    Add Roles and Features
  3. It will open Add Roles and Features wizard. Click Next.
    Add Roles and Features
  4. Select the server from the server pool and click Next.
    Add Roles and Features
  5. Click Checkbox to select Active Directory Domain Services.
    Active Directory Domain Services
  6. On the popup Window, just click Add Features.
    Add Features
  7. On the description window of Active Directory Domain Services, click Next.
    Active Directory Domain Services
  8. Click Install on the Confirmation window.
    Confirmation window
  9. Installation process begins.
    Installation process
  10. After installing AD DS Role, you can promote this Server to a Domain Controller.
    Promote to a Domain Controller
  11. Select Add a new forest and give the Root domain name, ad.gpfs.net. Click Next.
    Add a new forest
  12. Enter the Directory Services Restore Mode password.
    Directory Services Restore Mode password
  13. Ignore the warning message.
    Ignore the warning
  14. Use the default NetBIOS domain name and click Next.
    NetBIOS domain name
  15. Use the default paths and click Next.
    default paths
  16. Review and click Next if no errors.
    click next
  17. Click Install and wait for the installation to finish.
    Install
  18. The Domain Controller is now set up.