Windows Server 2012 R2

Promoting New Domain Controller / DNS Server on Windows Server “8” Beta

In Windows Server “8” Beta, Microsoft claims 300 new and improved features than Windows Server 2008 R2. In this article, we will install and Configure Active Directory Domain Services on Windows Server “8” Beta domain controller. In Windows Server “8” Beta, Microsoft discontinues (Dcpromo.exe), Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard. We hope Microsoft will continue this feature in next version of Windows Server “8” Beta. Therefore, we will use Server Manager Dashboard to promote domain controller in Windows Server “8” Beta.

Before we begin the process, let’s make sure that the TCP/IP and DNS Server addresses are configured properly.  Be sure to specify the static IP address for the server.

Because this is the First Domain Controller / DNS Server, the installation process will install the DNS service automatically and update the primary DNS entry for you.  

To Configure KTM-DC01-2K8 as a Domain Controller and DNS Server:

1. Open Server Manager Dashboard screen, click Manage and then click Add Roles and Features.

2. On the Before you begin page, click Next.

3. On the Select installation type page, select Role-based or features-based installation and click Next.

4. On the Select destination server page, select a server from the server pool and click Next.

5. In the Select server roles page, select Active Directory Domain Services and click Add Features when prompted, and then click Next.

6. In the Select features page, click Next.

7. In the Active Directory Domain Services page, click Next.

8. In the Confirm installation selections page, click Install. Wait for the installation to complete.

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9. In the Installation progress page, click the Promote this server to a domain controller.

10. In the Deployment Configuration page, select Add a new forest and in the Root domain name field, type msserverpro.com and then click Next.

11.  In the Domain Controller Options page, leave the default values and type DSRM password and click Next.

12. In the DNS Option page, click Next.

13. In the Additional Option page, accept default NetBIOS domain name and click Next.

14. On the Paths page, click Next.

 15. In the Review Options page, Review your selections and click Next.

16. In the Prerequisites Check page, verify All prerequisite checks passed successfully and then click Install to start the domain controller promotion. Allow the Installation to complete.

17.  Allow the domain controller to restart.

 18. After Restart the server verify an Active Directory Installation:

Open Server Manger Dashboard, click Tools and select Active Directory Users and Computers. Verify that the new Active Directory Domain has been created and the computer on which we installed Active Directory is listed as a Domain Controller for that domain.

On the Command prompt, type net share and press Enter. Verify NETLOGON and SYSVOL folder.

19. Open DNS Manager to configure Reverse Lookup Zones:

In the console tree of DNS Manager, expand KTM-DC01-2K8, and click Reverse Lookup Zones.

Right-click Reverse Lookup Zones, and then click New Zone.

On the Welcome to the New Zone Wizard page, click Next.

On the Zone Type page, select Primary Zone, and then click Next.

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On the Active Directory Zone Replication Scope, select To all DNS servers running on domain controllers in this domain: msserverpro.com and click Next.

On the Reverse Lookup Zone Name page, make sure IPv4 Reverse Lookup Zone is selected, and then click Next.

On the Reverse Lookup Zone Name page, in the Network ID field, type the start of the subnet range of your network (in this case, 192.168.xx), and then click Next.

On the Dynamic Update page, select Allow only secure dynamic updates (recommended for Active Directory) and click Next.

On the Completing the New Zone Wizard page, click Finish.

Expand Reverse Lookup Zones, right click on 214.168.192.in-addr.arpa, and select New Pointer (PTR), type the IP Address of the KTM-DC0102K8 (Domain Controller), click Browse, then select KTM-DC01-2K8 and click OK twice.

After Configured Reverse Lookup Zones at first time, Open Command Prompt, type nslookup to verify the DNS configuration.

 

Summary:

We will be using Windows Server 8 soon. This session showed you new ways of configuring Domain Controllers in Windows Server 8 using a little different approach than the ones we are used to.  There is no “DCPromo.Exe” – Your all familiar tool. Rather, Dashboard makes it even more convenient.

 

One comment

  • Sameer Yadavyd.sameer73@gmail.com

    thank you very much sir.
    you really made it very easy to install active directory in windows server 2012 .
    it would be more better if u could add something as how to build policy .
    thank you so very much.

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