11-02-2023, 09:07 AM
When you’re ready to install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), it's pretty exciting. I remember when I first tackled this, and I felt a mix of anticipation and a bit of that nervous energy we all know well. It’s not as scary as it sounds, and I’m here to walk you through it like I would if we were sitting side by side in a coffee shop, maybe grabbing some snacks while I share what I’ve learned.
First off, you want to make sure that you’re working on a machine that meets the requirements for AD DS. I’ve found that running the latest version of Windows Server—you know, like 2019 or 2022—gives you the best experience. Once you’ve got that in place, the next step I took was to log onto the server using an account that has administrative privileges. You definitely want to have full control because you’ll need to make some system changes.
After you’re logged in, you’ll need to head over to the Server Manager. It’s usually sitting right there on your taskbar, but you can also find it by typing “Server Manager” into the start menu. Opening it feels like stepping into the command center of your network. You can see lots of options, but what we’re looking for is the “Add Roles and Features” link. Click on that to get started, and you’ll be presented with a wizard making it easy to guide you through the installation.
When you hit that first screen, just click “Next.” I know it’s a simple step, but it feels like the train has left the station. The next thing you’ll pick is the installation type. You want to choose “Role-based or feature-based installation.” This option allows you to specifically add roles to the server you’re working on. It’s like telling the server, “Hey, we’re going to give you a new job!” So, click “Next” again.
Now, this part is crucial—you’ll need to select the server you’re working on if you have more than one server in your environment. If you’re on the correct server, just leave it as is and click “Next.” I remember this moment very clearly; it feels like you’re assembling all the puzzle pieces for a big picture.
As you go along, you’ll reach the “Select Roles” screen. Now, this is where the magic really starts to happen. You’ll find a laundry list of roles that you can install, and it can be a little overwhelming at first. The one you’re after is “Active Directory Domain Services.” So, check that box. The wizard will prompt you to confirm that you want to add some features that are required for this role, so don’t skip that. Just agree and click “Next.” It’s like the wizard is making sure you don’t miss any important bits.
Once you hit the features screen, you don’t need to add anything specific unless you have a burning desire to install other features. I usually just click “Next” to move on. Honestly, this part is all about keeping things simple and staying on target.
Now we’re onto the “Active Directory Domain Services” screen. This is similar to that moment in a movie where the protagonists find the key to their adventure. You get a rundown of what you’re about to install, and again, it’s like a friendly reminder of what you’re signing up for. Just click “Next,” and don’t worry—you’re in control.
After that, the next few screens will just run through some information about the AD DS role, and all of this is there to help you understand what’s going to happen. You might get an overview of the services included, and then you’ll finally hit the confirmation screen. This is where you get to review everything you’ve chosen so far; you want to make sure it all looks good, and when you’re happy with it, go ahead and click “Install.”
The installation process will take a little time, and it’s during this waiting period that I sometimes take a moment to reflect on what I’m doing—maybe even grab a cup of coffee. You’ll see the progress bar doing its thing, and that’s always a reassuring sight because it means you're moving forward.
Once the installation is complete, you’ll see a prompt that tells you it was successful. But the fun part isn’t over yet; you still have some work to do. You’ll need to promote the server to a domain controller next, and this is a critical step. Just look for the link that says, “Promote this server to a domain controller.” Click on that, and now you’re truly on your way.
You’re going to see a screen asking you what deployment operation you want to do. If you are starting fresh without an existing domain, you’re going to select “Add a new forest.” There’s something thrilling about creating something from scratch—it’s like building your own world in a video game. You’ll need to provide a root domain name. This can be anything you want, but I’d recommend something that feels logical for your environment, like “mycompany.local” or something similar. That’s always worked for me.
After you set the root domain name, continue down the wizard, and you’ll encounter a couple of options related to domain and forest functional levels. Unless you have specific requirements or are interacting with legacy systems, just go with the defaults. It simplifies things and reduces headaches. Next, you’ll have to set a Directory Services Restore Mode password. It’s critical that you remember this password. I’ve once had to troubleshoot because I forgot to write it down, so don’t skip this part!
As you move along, there will be some additional options regarding DNS. If you’re letting AD DS manage DNS for your environment, make sure the box for “DNS server” is checked. Trust me; it saves you a world of hassle later on.
Expect to see a confirmation screen summarizing everything you’ve set up thus far. Just give it a quick scan, and if everything looks right, click “Next.” The wizard will run through a few more final checks to ensure you haven’t missed anything important. After it confirms everything is in order, you’ll see the “Install” button again—so this is your moment. Hit it, and let the installation wrap up!
Your server will go through the promoting process, and then it will need to restart. I always feel a mix of anxiety and excitement when the server restarts after a big change like this, so I get why you might feel the same. Give it a moment, and when it boots up again, you’ll be logging in with your newly-formed domain!
Once the restart is complete, log in using the domain credentials. You want to get a good feel for how everything is functioning. You can head back into Server Manager, and if everything went smoothly, you’ll see the AD DS is up and operational. You can also open up the Active Directory Users and Computers tool from the tools menu, and this should give you a sense of satisfaction as you see your new domain come to life. You can start creating accounts and setting up users, and just like that, the server is now integrated into your AD DS environment.
Remember, this is just the start. There’s a ton of customization and configuration you can do post-installation, but honestly, the thrill of setting it all up for the first time is something I hope you enjoy as much as I did. Each step brings a new opportunity to explore what you can do, and before you know it, you’ll have a fully functioning Active Directory ready to serve your organization effectively. Remember, I’m always here to help if you run into any snags. Happy installing!
I hope you found this post useful. Do you have a secure backup solution for your Windows Servers? Check out this post.
First off, you want to make sure that you’re working on a machine that meets the requirements for AD DS. I’ve found that running the latest version of Windows Server—you know, like 2019 or 2022—gives you the best experience. Once you’ve got that in place, the next step I took was to log onto the server using an account that has administrative privileges. You definitely want to have full control because you’ll need to make some system changes.
After you’re logged in, you’ll need to head over to the Server Manager. It’s usually sitting right there on your taskbar, but you can also find it by typing “Server Manager” into the start menu. Opening it feels like stepping into the command center of your network. You can see lots of options, but what we’re looking for is the “Add Roles and Features” link. Click on that to get started, and you’ll be presented with a wizard making it easy to guide you through the installation.
When you hit that first screen, just click “Next.” I know it’s a simple step, but it feels like the train has left the station. The next thing you’ll pick is the installation type. You want to choose “Role-based or feature-based installation.” This option allows you to specifically add roles to the server you’re working on. It’s like telling the server, “Hey, we’re going to give you a new job!” So, click “Next” again.
Now, this part is crucial—you’ll need to select the server you’re working on if you have more than one server in your environment. If you’re on the correct server, just leave it as is and click “Next.” I remember this moment very clearly; it feels like you’re assembling all the puzzle pieces for a big picture.
As you go along, you’ll reach the “Select Roles” screen. Now, this is where the magic really starts to happen. You’ll find a laundry list of roles that you can install, and it can be a little overwhelming at first. The one you’re after is “Active Directory Domain Services.” So, check that box. The wizard will prompt you to confirm that you want to add some features that are required for this role, so don’t skip that. Just agree and click “Next.” It’s like the wizard is making sure you don’t miss any important bits.
Once you hit the features screen, you don’t need to add anything specific unless you have a burning desire to install other features. I usually just click “Next” to move on. Honestly, this part is all about keeping things simple and staying on target.
Now we’re onto the “Active Directory Domain Services” screen. This is similar to that moment in a movie where the protagonists find the key to their adventure. You get a rundown of what you’re about to install, and again, it’s like a friendly reminder of what you’re signing up for. Just click “Next,” and don’t worry—you’re in control.
After that, the next few screens will just run through some information about the AD DS role, and all of this is there to help you understand what’s going to happen. You might get an overview of the services included, and then you’ll finally hit the confirmation screen. This is where you get to review everything you’ve chosen so far; you want to make sure it all looks good, and when you’re happy with it, go ahead and click “Install.”
The installation process will take a little time, and it’s during this waiting period that I sometimes take a moment to reflect on what I’m doing—maybe even grab a cup of coffee. You’ll see the progress bar doing its thing, and that’s always a reassuring sight because it means you're moving forward.
Once the installation is complete, you’ll see a prompt that tells you it was successful. But the fun part isn’t over yet; you still have some work to do. You’ll need to promote the server to a domain controller next, and this is a critical step. Just look for the link that says, “Promote this server to a domain controller.” Click on that, and now you’re truly on your way.
You’re going to see a screen asking you what deployment operation you want to do. If you are starting fresh without an existing domain, you’re going to select “Add a new forest.” There’s something thrilling about creating something from scratch—it’s like building your own world in a video game. You’ll need to provide a root domain name. This can be anything you want, but I’d recommend something that feels logical for your environment, like “mycompany.local” or something similar. That’s always worked for me.
After you set the root domain name, continue down the wizard, and you’ll encounter a couple of options related to domain and forest functional levels. Unless you have specific requirements or are interacting with legacy systems, just go with the defaults. It simplifies things and reduces headaches. Next, you’ll have to set a Directory Services Restore Mode password. It’s critical that you remember this password. I’ve once had to troubleshoot because I forgot to write it down, so don’t skip this part!
As you move along, there will be some additional options regarding DNS. If you’re letting AD DS manage DNS for your environment, make sure the box for “DNS server” is checked. Trust me; it saves you a world of hassle later on.
Expect to see a confirmation screen summarizing everything you’ve set up thus far. Just give it a quick scan, and if everything looks right, click “Next.” The wizard will run through a few more final checks to ensure you haven’t missed anything important. After it confirms everything is in order, you’ll see the “Install” button again—so this is your moment. Hit it, and let the installation wrap up!
Your server will go through the promoting process, and then it will need to restart. I always feel a mix of anxiety and excitement when the server restarts after a big change like this, so I get why you might feel the same. Give it a moment, and when it boots up again, you’ll be logging in with your newly-formed domain!
Once the restart is complete, log in using the domain credentials. You want to get a good feel for how everything is functioning. You can head back into Server Manager, and if everything went smoothly, you’ll see the AD DS is up and operational. You can also open up the Active Directory Users and Computers tool from the tools menu, and this should give you a sense of satisfaction as you see your new domain come to life. You can start creating accounts and setting up users, and just like that, the server is now integrated into your AD DS environment.
Remember, this is just the start. There’s a ton of customization and configuration you can do post-installation, but honestly, the thrill of setting it all up for the first time is something I hope you enjoy as much as I did. Each step brings a new opportunity to explore what you can do, and before you know it, you’ll have a fully functioning Active Directory ready to serve your organization effectively. Remember, I’m always here to help if you run into any snags. Happy installing!
I hope you found this post useful. Do you have a secure backup solution for your Windows Servers? Check out this post.
