Install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019

  Security, Windows system administration
Active directory setup on windows server 2012, 2016, 2019

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012 R2 and up. Unlike previous versions where DCPROMO.EXE was used to install Active Directory, Microsoft now recommends using a different method. To install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012 and up, you need to follow these steps:

1 – Open “Server Manager” and select “Manage” → “Add Roles and Feature”.
Windows server Server manager add Active Directory
2 – Click “Next”.
windows server add roles and features Active Directory
3 – Select “Role-based or feature-based Installation” and click “Next”.
select installation type Active Directory
4 – Choose “Select a server from the server pool” if you’re installing locally.
select destination server Active Directory
5 – Check the box next to “Active Directory Domain Services”. A box will appear explaining additional roles services or features required for domain services.
select server roles Active Directory
6 – Click Add Features.
add features that are required for Active Directory
7 – Check “Group Policy Management” and click “Next”.
select features group policy management
8 – Click “Next”.
domain services Active Directory
9 – Click “Install”.
Confirm installation selections Active Directory
Wait for the installation bar to complete.
installation Active Directory
10 – Once installed, open the Notifications Pane in Server Manager by selecting the Notifications icon at the top of Server Manager. and select “Promote this server to a domain controller”.
notification pane promote this server to a domain controller Active Directory
11 – Click on “Add a new forest” and enter your root domain name into the Root domain name field (e.g., “example.com”).
deployment configuration Active Directory
12 – Select a Domain and Forest functional level and enter a DSRM password in the provided password fields (used when booting into recovery mode).
domain controller options Active Directory
13 – On the DNS Options tab, click OK then Next.
dns options Active Directory
14 – Enter NETBIOS name and click “Next”.
additional options netbios Active Directory
15 – Choose locations for SYSVOL, Log files, and Database folders then click Next.
Active Directory DS database, log files and sysvol
16 – Click “Install” and wait for completion (the server will restart several times).
Active Directory prerequisites check

The installation is now complete!

Active Directory server configuration results

Conclusion

This article taught us how to install Active Directory in Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019. We followed several steps to add roles and features, promote the server to a domain controller, and configure the domain and forest functional levels. This process is essential for setting up a secure and efficient network environment where users and resources can be managed centrally.

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