How to install Active Directory 2012 Domain on Windows Server 2012 Tutorial

First we need to change the computer name.  Windows provides a default name in the form of WIN <random characters>

1. To do it Go to Server Manager > Dashboard screen, click on Local Server and then click on the computer name hyperlink. This will take you to the all familiar System Properties

2. Click Change, enter a Computer Name and then click OK.

3. You will be prompted to restart your computer to apply the changes.  Click Ok and then Click on restart now.

4. After your computer has restarted, we will be presented with the Server Manager Screen.  Now we are ready to configure this server as an Active Directory Controller.

Second Assign a Static IP

1. To do so, from the Server Manager > Dashboard screen, click on Local Server and then click on the Ethernet IP hyperlink.

2. Right click on the Ethernet adapter > Click on Properties from the context menu.

4. In the Ethernet properties select the Internet Protocol version then click on Properties to assign an static IP.

Note: You can use the Gateway IP address as your Primary DNS, Once you install Active Directory and DNS it will change to point to itself.

Third Make sure you have set the proper time and timezone on the server before (AD DS)

Adding the Active Directory Domain Services Role

1. From the Dashboard click on “Add roles and features”.  You will be presented with the “Before you begin screen.  Click Next. 

2. In the “Installation Type” screen Select “Role-base or feature-based installation”. Click Next

3. Select a destination server.  This is a new feature of Windows 2012 where you have the ability to deploy roles and features to remote servers and even offline virtual hard disks.

4. In our case, we are selecting the current server from the server pool.Click Next

5. Select the “Active Directory Domain Services”

6. You will then be prompted to add features that are required for Active Directory Domain Services. Click on Add Features, Click Next

7. If you want to add additional features, you can do so from the next screen, otherwise click Next

8. You will now be presented with the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) screen outlining some information about AD DS and its requirements. Click next

9. You now provided with a summary of installation selections, The installation will now begin

10. Upon completion you will see an installation succeeded message. Click Close.

11. Back in Server Manager, you will notice that AD DS has been added to the left navigation tree. 

12. Click on it and then click on More… on the right navigation pane where it states that Configuration is required for Active Directory Domain Services.

13. In the All Servers Task Details Window, you will click on Promote this server to a domain controller under Action.

14. The Deployment Configuration screen appears and we will select “Add a new forest” as this is the first domain controller.

15. Enter your Root domain name and then click Next.

16. The following screen will then appear in which you will enter and select your Domain Controller Options.

17. You will then get a warning in which you can ignore for now. Click Next

18. The NetBIOS domain name will then be inputted automatically.  In the event of a conflict, it will suggest an alternative by appending the original name with a 0. Click Next

19. Confirm or change the locations of your database folder, log folder and SYSVOL folder. Click Next

20. Review your selections and then Click Next.

21. If all of the prerequisites checks have passed successfully, you will be able to click on Install to proceed. Click Install

22. The installation will now proceed and you will see the progress being displayed.

23. The computer will most likely restart on its own to complete the installation so don’t be alarmed if it does.

Upon restart, you should be able to login using your domain credentials for the user administrator.