Install Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 on a new computer

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2

Install Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 on a stand-alone server that will be used as a new server in the RMS cluster. After Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 is installed, you should assign a static IP address and then join it to the same domain as the RMS cluster.

If you have several servers in your RMS cluster, we recommend that you prepare at least half of your new servers for joining the AD RMS cluster at the same time because the database schema for RMS is different from that for AD RMS. When the first AD RMS server joins the cluster, the RMS configuration database is upgraded to the AD RMS schema. All RMS servers in the cluster will no longer be able to process RMS-enabled client requests.

To perform a new installation of Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2

  1. Start your computer by using the Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2product CD.

  2. Follow the rest of the instructions that appear on your screen to finish the installation.

We recommend that you use a static IP address for the server.

To configure a static IP address

  1. Log on to the computer as a member of the local Administrators group.

  2. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet, click Network and Sharing Center, click Manage Network Connections, right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.

  3. On the Networking tab, click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and then click Properties.

  4. Click the Use the following IP address option. In the IP address box, type the appropriate IP address. In the Subnet mask box, type the appropriate subnet mask, and then click OK.

  5. Click OK to close the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box.

Finally, you should add this computer to the same domain as the servers in the RMS cluster.

To join a computer to a domain

  1. Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties.

  2. Click Change settings (at the right side under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings), and then click Change.

  3. In the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, select the Domain option, and then type the appropriate domain.

  4. Click OK, and then click OK again.

  5. When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears prompting you for administrative credentials, provide the credentials for a member of the Domain Admins group, and then click OK.

  6. When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears welcoming you to the domain, click OK.

  7. When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears telling you that the computer must be restarted, click OK, and then click Close.

  8. Click Restart Now.