Promoting Your Server to a Domain Controller

Open Server Manager:

If closed, relaunch “Server Manager” Check for a yellow triangle warning sign near the menu bar, indicating that Active Directory Domain Services was installed.

Access Post-Deployment Configuration :

Click on the warning sign. A dropdown list with required actions (“post-deployment configuration”) will appear.

Choose “Promote this Server”:

Look for the option “Promote this server to a domain controller” Click on it to initiate the promotion process.

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Add A Forest

At this checkpoint, a configuration wizard will open on your screen, which will guide you throughout your deployment configuration. The first step of the deployment configuration is to add a new forest.

Deployment Configuration

Select “Add a New Forest”:

At the “Deployment Configuration” checkpoint, choose the radio button labeled “Add a new forest” Enter Root Domain Name:

Input your desired root domain name into the provided field. Proceed to Next Step:

Click on the “Next” button to move forward in the setup process.

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Setting Domain Controller options

Proceed to “Domain Controller Options”:

At the “Domain Controller Options” checkpoint, move ahead in the setup process. Leave Settings Untouched:

Do not make any changes to the existing settings; keep them as they are. Set and Confirm Password:

Enter your desired password and confirm it in the respective fields. Remember to keep a note of this password, as changing it later can be inconvenient.

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Configuring DNS Options

Navigate to DNS Options:

Move to the DNS Options page in the setup process.

Ignore Error Message:

Encounter an error message stating there’s no parent zone found and no delegation for your DNS server could be created. Click “Next”:

Disregard the error message and proceed by clicking the “Next” button. Leave Settings Unchanged:

Do not make any alterations to the settings at this checkpoint.

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Configure Additional Options

Enter your desired NetBIOS domain name in the given textbox. Click “Next”.

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Confirm Preselected Paths

Three or more paths will be listed on your screen. Do not change these paths. You’re not required to keep a note of these paths either. Click “next”.

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Review your Selections

Check Selected Options :

Look at the options listed on the configuration wizard at the “Review Options” checkpoint. Navigate Back if Needed:

If changes are necessary, use the “Previous” button to go back to relevant checkpoints and make desired adjustments. Ensure Satisfaction:

Confirm that you are satisfied with the selected options. Proceed to “Review Options”:

Once content with the choices, click the “Next” button on the “Review Options” section.

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Run Prerequisites Check

Go to “Prerequisites Check”:

Navigate to the “Prerequisites Check” checkpoint. Check Completion Status:

Verify if all prerequisite checks were successfully completed. Identify Errors (If Any):

If errors are present, a list of errors will be displayed. Fix Errors:

Go to the stated checkpoint for each error and make necessary fixes. Verify Success:

Once errors are fixed, a green check mark with a success message will be displayed.

Initiate Installation:

Click the “Install” button to commence the installation process.

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Congratulations! You have successfully set up Active Directory on your Windows Server 2022. Next, your server machine will need to be restarted once the promotion is successfully complete.

How to connect a client-server to a Domain controller

Connect Client Server VM → Start → Server Manger → Local Server → Click on WORKGROUP

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Now Click on Change

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Now add the Domain name which we promote as a server in Domain Controller server and ok.

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Click OK in the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, and then restart the computer.

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Once you have configured the client machine to the controller machine, you can verify the same on controller machine using the provided path.

Server manager → Tools → Active directory users and computers → Domain controller

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To verify the same in the client machine, access the client machine and navigate to the Network & Internet settings.

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