Installing Active Directory on Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise 64-bit

This article will address how to prepare and install Active Directory Domain Services (AD) on Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise 64-bit (W2K8).

This article is not intended for adding a Domain Controller (DC) to an already existing Active Directory Forest Infrastructure.

Preparation for Active Directory

Installing Active Directory Domain Services on a Rackspace Cloud Server is a relatively easy process. There are a few requirements that must be present first to ensure a smooth installation however.

Have your domain name selected and the Domain Administrator Password that you wish to use handy.
Note: Though it is not a requirement, It is recommended you use a multiple name format for you domain name. Example would be, domainName.com or domainName.local rather than simply domainName.
W2K8 can properly install and configure DNS during the AD installation if it knows that DNS is to be local.
This is accomplished by having the Private network adapter’s Preferred DNS server address point to the already assigned IP address of the same Private network adapter.
Select View Network Connections within the Server Summary of Server Manager.
Right click on the Private adapter and select Properties. Or Double click the Private adapter and select Properties.
Double click Internet Protocal Version 4, or select it and click Properties.
Copy your assigned IP address: displayed in the top box into the Preferred DNS server: box and click “OK”.
Click OK again for the private Properties and close the Network Connection window.
Note: The last step for prepping W2K8 for AD is adding the proper Server Role. The “Active Directory Domain Services” Role will be added. This only installs the framework for W2K8 to become a DC and run AD. It does not promote the server to DC or install AD.
To add the “Active Directory Domain Services” Role click on the Role Directory within Server Manager and select Add Roles in the Roles Summary.
In the Properties area of the Local Servers page, click Remote Management, and then check theEnable remote management of this server from other computers box.
Click Next in the Before You Begin section.
Now simply check the Active Directory Domain Services box, click Next twice, then click Installand finally Close when complete.

Installation of Active Directory Domain Services (DCPROMO)

Now that the Server has been prepared the installation of AD we can proceed. You now have three different ways we can begin the installation.

Within Server Manager, if you expand the Roles directory you will see the Active Directory Domain Services directory. Select that and you will find in the Summary “Run the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard (dcpromo.exe)” Simply click that to begin the installation.
The comandline equivilant to Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard is - Servermanagercmd.exe –I ADDS-Domain-Controller
The last and probably the most recognized method is typing DCPROMO.exe at the command prompt.

Whichever way you choose, You should get to this point. Simply click Next. You do not check advanced mode.
Click Next again.
Select Create a new domain in a new forest and click Next.
Enter the domain name you have chosen.
After the installation verifies that the NetBIOS Name, choose the Forest function level. (The example below reflects selcting 2008 R2.)
Click Next.
Note: It will examine and verify you DNS setting. DNS server should already be checked.
Click Next.

Note: You will now be prompted with the following message. This is OK.
Click Yes.
Click Next Again.
Enter your Domain Administrator Password that you chose. This is not your Admin Password that emailed to you during the creation of you Server, unless you want to use it. It is your decision.
Click Next.
The installation will now complete. You can check the Reboot on completion box, if you prefer.
If you did not check the Reboot on completionbox, you will need to click Finish. Then restart your server.
After a few minutes, reconnect to your server via the Console in your Control Panel or RDP.
To log in, you will need to select Switch User, then Other User. Type in your full domain name you picked followed by a back slash and Administrator for user. Then enter the password that was emailed to you when you first built the server. If you had already changed your password for the local admin account to this server before your began the install for AD, use that password.