Using the Active Directory Installation Wizard
The Active Directory Installation wizard promotes the computer to the role of domain controller, installs Active Directory, and can install and configure the DNS server. For more information about the Active Directory Installation wizard, see "Active Directory Data Storage" in the Microsoft ® Windows ® 2000 Server Resource Kit Distributed Systems Guide .
When you start the Active Directory Installation wizard and choose to create a new domain, the wizard finds the DNS server that is authoritative for the name of the new Active Directory domain and then checks whether that server is going to accept dynamic updates. If the test is positive, the wizard does not install and configure a local DNS server.
If the Active Directory Installation wizard cannot find the DNS server that is authoritative for the name, or if the server it finds does not support dynamic updates or is not configured to accept dynamic updates, the Active Directory Installation wizard asks you whether you want the wizard to automatically install and configure a local DNS server. If you answer yes, the wizard automatically installs and configures the DNS Server service.
During automatic configuration, the Active Directory Installation wizard adds to the DNS server the forward lookup zone that will host the locator records and configures the DNS server to accept dynamic updates. (A forward lookup zone is a zone that contains information needed to resolve names within the DNS domain.) In some cases, it also primes the root hints with the names of the root servers. The wizard uses the following process to determine whether to prime the root hints:
The Active Directory Installation wizard examines the TCP/IP configuration of the computer and checks whether the computer is configured to use any DNS servers. If so, the Active Directory Installation wizard queries for the root servers. If it finds root DNS servers, it primes the root hints with the names of the root DNS servers.
If the resolver is not configured to use any DNS servers, the Active Directory Installation wizard queries for the root DNS servers specified in the file Cache.dns. By default, these are the Internet root servers. If it finds root DNS servers, it primes the root hints with the names of the root DNS servers. If it does not find any root servers, it creates a root zone on the DNS server, making it a root server.
After the Active Directory Installation wizard finishes, you are prompted to restart the computer. After the computer restarts, Netlogon attempts to add locator resource records to the DNS server by sending a dynamic update request to the authoritative DNS server. Locator resource records are necessary for other computers to locate this domain controller.
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Note
You can also invoke the Active Directory Installation wizard by executing an answer file that contains all of the settings that you need to configure. An answer file is a file that a wizard uses to provide answers to questions. For more information about the answer file for the Active Directory Installation wizard, see "Active Directory Data Storage" in the Microsoft ® Windows ® 2000 Server Resource Kit Distributed Systems Guide .
Follow the steps below to install and configure DNS and Active Directory. For more information about installing and configuring Active Directory, see "Active Directory Data Storage" in the Microsoft ® Windows ® 2000 Server Resource Kit Distributed Systems Guide .
To configure DNS and Active Directory
Log on as Administrator.
Check the TCP/IP settings of your computer to make sure it is configured to use a DNS server. If your computer is the first DNS server on the network, you can configure your computer to use itself as a DNS server.
If the Windows 2000 Configure Your Server wizard is not already open on your computer, click Start , point to Programs and Administrative Tools , and then click Configure Your Server .
Use the Windows 2000 Configure Your Server wizard to install and configure Active Directory. The Windows 2000 Configure Your Server wizard asks you questions about your configuration and then starts the Active Directory Installation wizard, which installs and configures Active Directory. If it's necessary, the Active Directory Installation wizard also guides you through the installation and configuration of the DNS server component.
When directed to do so, restart your computer.
After you have run the Active Directory Installation wizard, you might need to add a delegation in the parent zone of the zone you created. If this server is a root DNS server, there is no parent zone; therefore, you do not need to add a delegation. However, if there are other DNS servers that are running on the network, you must add a delegation.
To add a delegation
Locate the zone that the Active Directory Installation wizard created. The Active Directory Installation wizard automatically creates a zone with the same name as the Active Directory domain you created.
Locate the parent zone for this zone.
On the parent zone, add the delegation.