Promoting a server to a domain controller is the process of installing Active Directory Services on that server
An administrator has the following options when promoting a server to a domain controller:
- Installing the first domain controller in a new forest
- Installing the first domain controller in a new domain tree
- Installing the first domain controller in a new child domain
- Installing an additional domain controller in a domain tree
- Removing Active Directory from domain controller
Important Considerations for installing and configuring Domain Controller
1. An NTFS partition with enough free space
2. An Administrator's username and password
3. The correct operating system version
4. A NIC
5. Properly configured TCP/IP (IP address, subnet mask and - optional - default gateway)
6. A network connection (to a hub or to another computer via a crossover cable
7. An operational DNS server (which can be installed on the DC itself)
8. A Domain name that you want to use
9. The Windows Server 2003 CD media (or at least the i386 folder)
Step by Step procedure to configure a Domain Controller
Before Promoting a domain controller make sure u already check the important consideration checklist
1. Go to start -> Select Run ->type DCPROMO
2. On the Active Directory Installation Wizard click on Next
3. Click “Next” on the compatibility window
4. On Next window select the default option of “Domain Controller for a new domain” and click “Next”
5. In this we will create a domain in a new forest, because it is the first DC, so keep that option selected
6. Now we have to think of a name for our domain. If you have a domain like SYZADMIN, you can use it, but it isn’t suggested because computers inside of your domain may not be able to reach the company website. Active directory domains don’t need to be “real” domains like the one above - they can be anything you wish. So I will create “SYZADMIN.COM”
7. Now in order to keep things simple, we will use “SYZADMIN”, which is the default selection, as the NetBIOS name of the domain
8. The next window suggests storing the AD database and log on separate hard disk and you can just leave the default settings
9. The SYSVOL folder is a public share, where things like .MSI software packages can be kept when you will distribute packages and you can just leave the default settings or you can change the path.
- If your DNS server, zone and/or computer name suffix were not configured correctly you will get the following warning:
· This means the Dcpromo wizard could not contact the DNS server, or it did contact it but could not find a zone with the name of the future domain. You should check your settings.
· You have an option to let Dcpromo do the configuration for you. If you want, Dcpromo can install the DNS service, create the appropriate zone, configure it to accept dynamic updates, and configure the TCP/IP settings for the DNS server IP address.
- To let Dcpromo do the work for you, select "Install and configure the DNS server...".
12. Next Screen basically says that you will need a DNS server in order for everything to work the way we want it (i.e., our “SYZADMIN” to be reachable).we will install the DNS server on this machine or if you want you can installed elsewhere select “Install and Configure…” and click next.
11. Here you need to select the permissions for win 2000 or win 2003 server if you have any NT4 select first option otherwise select second option and click next
12. The restore mode password is the single password that all administrators hope to never use, however they should also never forget it because this is the single password that might save a failed server. Click next
13. Now we will see a summary, review and click next
14. Active directory installation process started this can take several minutes. It’s likely that you will be prompted for your Windows Server 2003 CD (for DNS) so have it handy.
15. Active directory Installation finish screen click Finish.
16. It will ask for restart. Click restart now. And Login to the Computer via Domain Account by selecting the option in the login window.
Here we go, we installed and configured the Domain Controller.
