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Setup Active Directory on Windows Server 2016

January 18, 2016 by chrisadmin

How to setup Active Directory in Windows Server 2016 as a new domain controller.

Here we are going to tackle the first part of setting up a domain; promoting our brand new server as a domain controller.

This is considered tutorial number three in a video series titled: Server Basics 2016. Tutorial number 1 was about downloading Server 2016 and a brief overview. Tutorial number 2 was on installing Server 2016.

It’s a fairly simple process these days since the system walks you through the entire thing. Join me within the video, or in the text instructions below.

Remember, we are only setting up a test environment here in a virtual test lab. I am using VirtualBox for my VM foundation since it’s free and super easy to use.

 

Windows Server 2016

How to Configure AD DS (Domain Controller)

Steps to setup Active Directory

  • From the Server Manager Dashboard, click on Add roles and features.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • Select Role-based or feature-based installation and click Next.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • Select the server by highlighting the row and select Next.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • Select Active Directory Domain Services and then select Next.

    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • Click Add Features.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • You shouldn’t have to select anything at the Select features, so just select Next.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • Click Next in the AD DS section.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • On the confirmation window, review everything and then click Install.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • 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)
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • Or, if you are like me and you clicked Close, click on the yellow exclamation mark in the upper-right section of the Server Manager Dashboard.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • Select Add a new forest, type in a domain name that you want to use (pro-tip: use something like <something>.internal), then click Next.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • Type in a password you want to use for DSRM, then click Next.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • Click Next on the NDS Options page.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • Click Next in the Additional Options page.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • Click Next on the Paths sections.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • Click Next on the Review Options screen, then click Install on the Prerequisites Check page.
    Setup Active Directory Server 2016
  • 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).
  • Let’s verify Active Directory is setup and our server is classified as a DC (domain controller).
  • From within Server Manager, click Tools then Active Directory Users and Computers.
    Server Basics 2016 - Install Active Directory
  • Expand the domain root (in my case, it’s TESTDOMAIN.internal), then click on Domain Controllers.
    Server Basics 2016 - Install Active Directory
  • You should see your new server being displayed.
  • One las thing I want to do at this point is enable RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol).
  • From Server Manager Dashboard, click Local Server then click Disabled next to Remote Desktop.
    Server Basics 2016 - Install Active Directory
  • Select Allow remote connections to this computer
  • Uncheck the option Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication, then click OK.
    Server Basics 2016 - Install Active Directory

We are done with the basic Active Directory setup!

Next up: Configuring Active Directory OU (Organizational Unit) structure.

Server Basics 2016 Series Navigation

  • Tutorial #1: Downloading Windows Server 2016
  • Tutorial #2: Installing Windows Server 2016
  • Tutorial #3: Setup Active Directory on Windows Server 2016 (this article)
  • Tutorial #4: OU Structure on Server 2016 
  • Tutorial #5: Create AD Users and Groups
  • Tutorial #6: Setup DHCP Role on Server 2016
  • Tutorial #7: Join Windows 10 to Domain – Server 2016
  • Tutorial #8: (coming soon)

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