Creating a Domain on a Windows Server By Shan

Creating a Domain on a Windows Server

Install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)

1. Launch the Server Manager.
2. Click on "Add roles and features" and follow the wizard to install the Active Directory Domain Services role.
3. After the role installation is complete, promote the server to a domain controller.

Promote the Server to a Domain Controller

1. In the Server Manager, click on the notification flag and select "Promote this server to a domain controller."
2. Choose "Add a new forest" and enter the root domain name for your new domain.
3. Set the Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) password.
4. Review the options and click "Next" to proceed.
5. Configure the Domain Controller options, including the Domain Name System (DNS) and Global Catalog (GC) settings.
6. Continue through the wizard, review the summary, and click "Install" to promote the server to a domain controller.

Configure DNS

After promoting the server to a domain controller, configure the DNS settings to ensure proper name resolution for the domain.

Add Computers to the Domain

1. On the client computer, open the Control Panel and go to "System and Security" > "System" > "Change settings" (next to "Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings").
2. Click on "Change" and select "Domain."
3. Enter the domain name that you created in step 2.
4. You'll be prompted to provide credentials for an account with permission to join computers to the domain. Enter the username and password of a domain administrator.
5. Click "OK" and restart the computer when prompted.

Verify Domain Join

After the computer restarts, log in using a domain user account (e.g., username@domainname). Open the Control Panel and go to "System and Security" > "System" to verify that the computer is now joined to the domain.