Step by Step Installation of Active Directory Domain Controller 2016:
In this blog, I am going through step by step on the installation of Active Directory ( AD ) role on Windows Server 2016.
Basic requirement-
- Static IP on AD server.
- NTFS partition.
- Provide a hostname to the server which you want to provide to the Domain Controller. After installation, it’s not easy to change the name.
- You need to have administrator privileges on the server to install AD.
Phase 1- Let’s Start installation of AD
Log in to the server, and click on the Start button and then select the Server Manager:
Now On the Server Manager Dashboard, click on Add roles and features:
Now Click Add role and features wizard will come up to choose the next options. Once click on Next. On the next below “Select Installation type” screen, choose the first option “Role-based or feature-based installation and click on Next:
When Click on Next. On the next screen “Select destination server” from the server pool. your local server should be there, you may also crosscheck IP address and click on Next:
Now On the next screen click on Active Directory Domain Services and the Add features window will pop-up, Click on Add Features and then click on Next.
In the next screen please make sure .NET 4.6 Features are checked, and click on Next button:
When we click on Next. On the following screen, you will see a short overview of the role of a domain controller, and the services that will be installed. If this is your first domain controller you will be prompted to install the DNS Service which is required on a domain controller and Click on Next.
In the next window click on Install on the confirmation window.
After clicking on the Install button, The Installation will start:
Phase 2- Let’s Setup Active Directory Domain Controller
When the AD role has been installed successfully. click on Promote this server to a domain controller as showing in below screenshot, Provide Root domain name, example- TAJ.local
Fill the answer of deployment questions may be-
1. Add a domain controller to an existing domain- This option is will be selected while you are adding a new additional DC to an existing domain.
2. Add a new domain to an existing forest- This Option will be selected while we already have a forest and need to add a new domain in that forest.
3. We have chosen “Add a new forest” as we don’t have any forest or domain.
Once click on the next button below screen will appear.
Now choose your Forest functional level and enter the Directory Service Restore Mode password. If this is your first domain controller these choose “Windows Server 2016” as the Forest and Domain functional level. Please make sure the DNS option is checked and because this is my first server, the Global Catalog ( GC) is already checked. Read Only domain controller(RODC) is already unchecked as first domain controller can’t be RODC.
Now click on Next:
Because we are installing a forest root domain controller that is using Active Directory-integrated DNS, So we don’t need to worry about this warning message, click on Next:
Once we click on Next below snapshot will be displayed. Choose the NetBIOS domain name (already selected ) and click Next.
Below screen will display, It’s showing paths for the AD database, normally the defaults are OK you may change this path if you want to change.
In the last Final review, an option will be displayed. review the configuration and click on Next-
Once we Click on Next the screen will be Prerequisite check which may take some time to check the same. You will see the screen like below screen-
After Prerequisites check, If all goes successfully then click on Install button as showing in below screen.
After Click on Install button, The Installation will start and once finishes, the server will reboot automatically and below message will, pop-up on your screen for Windows Server 2016 is about to reboot:
After reboot process complete you have to log in with the domain administrator id, your local password with be domain administrator account password.
When you’re logged in successfully using your domain credentials, find Administrative tools and open Active Directory Users and Computers to make sure your AD is working. You may also use dsa.msc in run to start the same.
We are able to see the Active Directory Users and Computers wizard so our AD has been installed successfully.
Summary of Minimum requirement for AD installation
- Processor 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor Compatible with x64 instruction set.
- RAM 512 MB (2 GB for Server with Desktop Experience installation option)
- Storage– Around 32 GB
- Network– One NIC with Static IP address.
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