Setting Up Your First Active Directory Domain Controller With Windows Server 2012 ~ System Help Line

Dcpromo can't be used anymore with Windows Server 2012. dcpromo has been deprecated. We have been always using Dcpromo to setup a domain controller. However, with Windows Server 2012, you can only use it for an unattended installation. So what is the alternative ? well, you have to use Server Manager

If you tried to run dcpromo, you will receive the below popup message

In order to make the windows server 2012 domain controller we will install ADDS (Active Directory Domain Services) Role from the server manager on Windows Server 2012 and then promote the server to a domain controller. So we have this articles into two sections:

Install Active Directory Domain Services using Server Manager
Promote the server to a Domain Controller using Server Manager

so lets start.

Install Active Directory Domain Services using Server Manager

Log on as the local Administrator, and from the Start Screen, click on Server Manager
From the Server Manager Dashboard page, Click on Add roles and features
The Add roles and features wizard will open, click Next to begin
On the installation type page, select Role-based or feature-based installation and click Next
On the destination server, select a server from the server pool and make sure that the server you want to install Active Directory services on is currently highlighted ( You can manager a server pool if you had any but this is out of the scope of this article )
From the list of available roles, select Active Directory Domain Services
A list of features that will automatically be installed along with Active Directory Domain Services role will be displayed. Click Add Features.

The features that will be installed along with ADDS are Group Policy Management and Remote Server Administrator Tools
Next are the Features to select/deselect. As you can see, Group Policy Management and Remote Server Administrator Tools are automatically selected. Click Next to continue
A Brief about the role you are installing and few notes will be displayed, click Next to continue

On the Confirmation page, If you need to reboot the machine automatically if required after installation is completed, then select the option Restart the destination server automatically if required. Click Install

Confirm that you want to reboot the server if required after installation is completed
Installation will be completed successfully and no reboot is required. Click Close

Promote the server to a Domain Controller using Server Manager

After Active Directory Domain Services role binaries have been installed. It is time to promote the server to a Domain Controller. From the Dashboard in Server Manager, click on Notifications and then click on Promote this server to a domain controller
On the Deployment Configuration page, select Add a new forest, as this will be our first domain controller. Also type the root domain name, in my case, my domain name will be : elmajdal.com . Click Next to continue
Select the functional level of the new forest and domain. As this is first Domain Controller in our Network, and we don't have a DNS Server installed. We can select to have a DNS Server role installed as well. Type a password for the directory services restore mode. This password is needed when you want to restore your Active Directory . The Server is by default selected as a Global Catalog, this option can not be removed. This is because in Forest, there has to be at least on Global Catalog Domain Controller.
On the DNS Options page, you can safely ignore the warning message. Normally you could select in this Wizard a DNS delegation but currently we have no DNS Server in this domain, so we have no option to delegate. Click Next
The NetBIOS name assigned to the domain will be verified, Click Next
The Database, logs and SYSVOL folders paths will be displayed. You can change the default location . I will keep the default paths. Click Next
Review the installation summary and then click Next.

Here you are able to export the configuration selected into a dcpromo unattended file . This script can be used in PowerShell script to install domain controllers.
Prerequisites check will be performed. Click Install
Promoting the Server to a Domain Controller will start . Computer Will automatically reboot.
Login to domain controller using your administrator username and password.

You will notice that the following are installed and added to the Start Screen:

Group Policy Management
Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell
ADSI Edit
Active Directory Domains and Trusts
Active Directory Users and Computers
Active Directory Administrative Center
Active Directory Sites and Services
DNS

Setting Up Your First Active Directory Domain Controller With Windows Server 2012

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