How to install Active Directory on Windows 2008

Before you start following this article you must be aware this is simply a lab setup and you need to assign relevant ip address, hostnames & domain names which are relavant to your enviroment / organisation.

I will be using the following:

Hostname=PILOT-DC-01
IP address=192.168.1.200
Subnet Mask=255.255.255.0
Domain name=PILOt.LOCAL
Forest = New
Partition: NTFS ( 60 GB )

The Virtual machine used has been installed as of date when this article was written with a default install of Windows 2008 R2 x64 BIT + all MS critical updates.



Configure IP Address details as required. As this is the only DNS server and the first DC we will point the DNS to itself.





Start Server Manager and select Roles > Add Roles





Click Next  >



Once you select Active Directory Domain Service you will see this dialogue box it is self explanatory. :)

Click ok




Click Next > & move ahead.





Some Useful tips on this page if you would like to reaand than move ahead pelase do so.

Click next >




Click Next  >




once the wizard is complete

Click Close >







There are various ways you can start and compelte the DCPROMO wizard. We choose to install it using the Server Manager indicated in the screenshot below.







Click advanced check box.

Click Next >




Read the text carefull before you move ahead.

Click Next >




Select New Domain in a New Forest.

Click Next >




Decide your FQDN for the new forest root domain. I have chosen to go with the
PILOT.LOCAL.

Click Next >





DCPROMO wizard verifies if this name is already in use on the same VLAN etc....





We have used the default name PILOT as the NETBIOS name, you can change it if you choose too.



Set you FFL right now we have decided to use Windows 2008 R2 as that is the first DC + no other
DC in this domain. We also would like to research and test the new FFL features. Please make your
appropriate choice here as this change is irreversible.


Click Next  >





The wizard will install DNS & configure it for you.

Click Next >




Click Yes >




We currently only have a single partition so we ahve no choice of changing these paths but
please make your partition choice.

Click Next >




Enter your recovery mode password and record it safely.

Click Next >




You can export these settings and also could use the answer file to run the same wizard again
with relevant changes tot he file for any options you want for example: We could ahve done all of
the above using command line and the answer file.

1. A new DC & in a new forest.
2. A Addtional DC in an existing forest.
3. etc..




The wizard applies all the configuration we did earlier.





Click Finish & Reboot.







After reboot we can verify the DNS server has been auto installed and configured by the DCPROMO wizard.



All we need to do now is create the DNS reverse lookup zone as that is done manually.



Click Next  >



Click Next  >



Click Next  >




Define your ip subnet details.

Click Next  >




Click Next  >




Click Finish  >




Now the reverse lookup zoone shows up in DNS.








The domain controller does show up in ADUC.



New SYSVOL & NETLOGON shares are also available & accessible.

For any further troubleshooting or for verification you can run dcdiag.exe
netdiag.exe

log the results into a text file and view the outcome.