Install AD DS on the First Domain Controller in a New Regional Domain

Applies To: Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2008

If you are installing a new Windows Server 2008 regional domain in a Windows Server 2008 forest, you do not have to prepare the forest before you begin the installation. However, before you install a new Windows Server 2008 regional domain in a Windows Server 2003 or Microsoft Windows 2000 Server forest, you must run the command-line tool Adprep. Running Adprep prepares the forest before you install the first domain controller of the new regional domain that runs Windows Server 2008.

For more information about other ways to install Windows Server 2008regional domains, see Installing a New Windows Server 2008 Child Domain (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=102560).

The Windows interface provides wizards that guide you through the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) installation process.

Membership in Enterprise Admins, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).

To install a new regional domain

  1. Click Start, and then click Server Manager.

  2. In Roles Summary, click Add Roles.

  3. If necessary, review the information on the Before You Begin page, and then click Next.

  4. On the Select Server Roles page, select the Active Directory Domain Services check box, and then click Next.

  5. If necessary, review the information on the Active Directory Domain Services page, and then click Next.

  6. On the Confirm Installation Selections page, click Install.

  7. On the Installation Results page, click Close this wizard and launch the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard (dcpromo.exe).

  8. On the Welcome to the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard page, click Next.

    If you select the Use advanced mode installation check box, the wizard displays the Domain NetBIOS Name page and the Source Domain Controller page. On the Domain NetBIOS Name page, you can change the NetBIOS name that the wizard generates by default. On the Source Domain Controller page, you can choose a specific domain controller to use for sending and receiving domain data during the installation.

  9. On the Choose a Deployment Configuration page, click Existing forest and Create a new domain in an existing forest, and then click Next.

  10. On the Network Credentials page, type the name of any existing domain in the forest where you want to install a new domain, and then complete the following steps:

    1. Under Specify the account credentials to use to perform the installation, click My current logged on credentials or click Alternate credentials, and then click Set.

    2. In the Windows Security dialog box, provide the user name and password for an account that can install the new domain.

      To install a new domain, you must be a member of the Enterprise Admins group.

    3. When you have finished providing credentials, click Next.

  11. On the Name the New Domain page, type the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the parent domain and the single-label name of the child domain, and then click Next.

  12. On the Domain NetBIOS Name page, change the name, if necessary, and then click Next.

  13. On the Set Domain Functional Level page, select the domain functional level that accommodates the domain controllers that you plan to install anywhere in the domain, and then click Next.

  14. On the Select a Site page, select a site from the list or select the option to install the domain controller in the site that corresponds to its IP address, and then click Next.

  15. On the Additional Domain Controller Options page, select any additional options for the domain controller, and then click Next.

    The DNS server option is selected by default so that your domain controller can function as a Domain Name System (DNS) server. A DNS zone and a delegation for that zone are automatically created for this domain.

    The Global catalog option is not selected by default. If you select this option, this domain controller will also host the domain-wide operations master roles for the new domain, including the infrastructure operations master role. Hosting the infrastructure operations master role on a global catalog server in a child domain can cause problems unless all the domain controllers in the domain are global catalog servers.

  16. On the Source Domain Controller page, select Any writable domain controller or select This specific domain controller to specify a domain controller from which to replicate the configuration and schema directory partitions, and then click Next.

  17. On the Location for Database, Log Files, and SYSVOL page, type or browse to the volume and folder locations for the database file, the directory service log files, and the system volume (SYSVOL) files, and then click Next.

    Windows Server Backup backs up the directory service by volume. For backup and recovery efficiency, store these files on separate volumes that do not contain applications or other files that are not directory files.

  18. On the Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator Password page, type and confirm the restore mode password, and then click Next.

    You must use this password to start AD DS in Directory Service Restore Mode for tasks that you must perform offline.

  19. On the Summary page, review your selections.

    Click Back to change any selections, if necessary.

    To save the installation settings that you selected to an answer file that you can use to automate subsequent AD DS installations, click Export settings. Type the name for your answer file, and then click Save.

    When you are sure that your selections are accurate, click Next to install AD DS.

  20. On the Completing the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard page, click Finish.

  21. When you are prompted to restart the server, you can either select the Reboot on completion check box to have the server restart automatically or you can restart the server manually to complete the AD DS installation.