Promote Windows Server 8 to Domain Controller, step-by-step
DC or also known as domain controller is a Windows Server 8 that has Active Directory Domain Services role installed. When installing Windows Server on a computer, you can elect to configure a specific server role for that system. When you create a new forest, a new domain, or add a DC in an existing domain, you are installing Active Directory Domain Services role on Windows Server 8. For me, since this is the first server in the domain, it will install all the FSMO roles: Schema master, Domain naming master, PDC emulator, Infrastructure master, RID master. Below I will walk you step by step on how to promote Windows Server 8 to a domain controller. This is also known as Windows Server 8 dcpromo process.
1.From ServerManager, select “add roles”
2. Select a server from a server pool and select a local server
3. Select “Active Directory Domain Services” role.
4. Once installation complete, you are not done. You need to click on “Promote this server to a domain controller” to complete the process.
Since, I am adding a brand new domain, I will select Windows 2008 R2 so it’s backward compatible.
Once the Installation completes, you will find all related administriative tools under the start menu. Active Directory Domain Controller role installs below tools:
Active Directory Aministrative Center
Active Directory Module for powershell
ADSI Edit
Active Directory Domains and Trusts
Active Directory Users and Computers
Group Policy Management
Next article, I will do in deeper on what each tool does.
