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Install and Setup Active Directory

How to install and setup active directory


Overview: This article provides a comprehensive guide on installing and setting up Active Directory on Windows Server 2012, 2016, or 2019. It includes step-by-step instructions for adding roles and features, promoting the server to a domain controller, and managing Active Directory using the Administrative Center. 

Pre-requisites : Windows server 2012/ 2016 / 2019
 
Step 1. From the Server Manager Dashboard, click on Add roles and features.

 

Step 2. Select Role-based or feature-based installation and click Next.

 

Step 3. Select the server by highlighting the row and select Next.

 
Step 4. Select Active Directory Domain Services and then select Next.

 
Step 5. Click Add Features.

 

Step 6. You shouldn’t have to select anything at the Select Features, so just select Next.

 
Step 7. Click Next in the AD DS section.

 

Step 8. On the confirmation window, review everything and then click Install.

  • The installation will begin.
  • When the installation is complete, you need to now promote the server to a domain controller.
  • Click Promote this server to a domain controller (small hyperlink in the results window). Refer the below screenshot.

 

Step 9. Select Add a new forest, type in a domain name that you want to use (pro-tip: use something like example.com), then click Next.

 

Step 10. Type in a password you want to use for DSRM, then click Next.

 

Step 11. Click Next on the DNS Options page.

 

Step 12. Click Next on the Additional Options page.

 

Step 13. Click Next on the Paths sections.

 

Step 14. Click Next on the Review Options screen, then click Install on the prerequisites check page.

  • The installation (promotion process) will begin. The server will reboot during this process.
  • When the installation is complete, log back in (this time you will be logging into the server with domain credentials)
Step 15. From Server Manager, click Tools then Active Directory Administrative Center

 

Step 16. There you can add new AD Users, Organizational Unit and Groups

 

Step 17. You will be able to find the DN of the Organizational unit by clicking on the title bar

 

Step 18. You can find the DN of a user by Right button click on a User -> Properties ->Extensions -> Attribute Editor.

 


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