Installing Active Directory (dcpromo)
Installing Active Directory (dcpromo)
The Active Directory Installation Wizard (dcpromo.exe) promotes a Windows 2000 Server to a domain controller. This guide covers creating a new forest and domain.
Prerequisites
- Windows 2000 Server with SP4 installed
- An NTFS partition for the AD database and SYSVOL
- DNS server (the wizard can install DNS automatically)
- Static IP address configured on the server
- A planned domain name (e.g.,
corp.flamenet.io)
Running dcpromo
- Click Start → Run, type
dcpromo, and press Enter. - The wizard launches. Click Next on the welcome page.
- Select Domain controller for a new domain.
- Select Create a new domain tree, then Create a new forest of domain trees.
- Enter the full DNS name:
corp.flamenet.io. - Accept the default NetBIOS name (e.g.,
CORP) or customize it. - Choose the location for the AD database (
NTDS.DIT) and log files. The default is%SystemRoot%\NTDS. - Choose the SYSVOL location. This folder stores Group Policy templates and logon scripts. It must be on an NTFS volume.
- If DNS is not configured, the wizard offers to install and configure the DNS service automatically. Select Yes, install and configure DNS.
- Choose Permissions compatible only with Windows 2000 servers for a pure Win2K environment.
- Set the Directory Services Restore Mode password. This password is used when booting into DS Restore Mode to repair AD.
- Review the summary and click Next to begin promotion.
- The server reboots. After reboot, log in with the domain Administrator account.
Verification
REM Verify AD is running net start | find "Directory" REM Check DNS SRV records nslookup -type=SRV _ldap._tcp.corp.flamenet.io REM Open AD Users and Computers dsa.msc