Active Directory Requirements and Pre-Installation Steps
Before diving into the installation process, let’s ensure your Windows Server environment meets the necessary active
directory requirements.
These include:
Hardware Requirements:
Processor: 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor
RAM: 2 GB or higher
Disk Space: At least 40 GB of free space on the system drive
Network Adapter: A network adapter supporting Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet
Software Requirements:
Operating System: Windows Server 2022
DNS Server: Configured or available on the network
Network Configuration:
Domain Name: A unique and valid domain name
Static IP Address: Setting a static IP address on your Windows Server is crucial. It ensures a consistent IP
for your domain controller, preventing disruptions caused by IP changes.
Static IP Address
To set a static IP address, use the Network and Sharing Center or PowerShell:
Note: Set the IPAddress and Default Gateway to your local values
To set a static IP address:
First, open the Network and Sharing Center.
Select your primary Ethernet connection. (Usually called Ethernet#1)
Click on Properties
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) from the list.
Click on Properties
Enter the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server address.
New-NetIPAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -IPAddress "[Link]" -
PrefixLength 24 -DefaultGateway "[Link]"
It is important to note that the DNS server address should be set to the server’s IP address ([Link]). This will
ensure the server can resolve its hostname and prevent issues with the Active Directory installation.
Once the static IP address has been set, you can proceed with the AD installation.
Step 1 – Add the Active Directory Domain Services Role
The first step in installing AD is to use Server Manager to add the Active Directory Domain Services role. To do
this:
1. Open Server Manager and navigate to “Add roles and features.”
2. Click “Next” until you reach the “Server Roles” screen.
3. Select “Active Directory Domain Services” and click “Next.”
4. Review the selected features and click “Install.”
Click Next until you reach the Server Roles screen. Select Active Directory Domain Services and click Next.
Review the features and click Next again. Finally, click Install to begin the installation process.
PowerShell
Install-WindowsFeature -Name AD-Domain-Services, RSAT-AD-Tools -
IncludeManagementTools
This command not only installs the AD Domain Services role but also includes the Remote Server Administration
Tools (RSAT), giving you the tools to manage Active Directory from other computers within the domain.
Step 2 – Install Active Directory
After installing the Active Directory Domain Services role, you must promote the server to a domain controller.
To do this,
Open Server Manager
Select the Active Directory Domain Services role from the Dashboard.
Click on the Configuration Required link to open the configuration wizard. Follow the prompts to configure
the necessary settings, such as the domain name, domain functional, and forest functional levels.
PowerShell
Install-ADDSForest -DomainName "[Link]" -DomainNetbiosName
"TURBOGEEK" -DomainMode "WinThreshold" -ForestMode "WinThreshold" -InstallDns
-NoRebootOnCompletion
Step 3 – Setup the Domain
After selecting Promote this server to a domain controller, you will see the screen below. Fill in the information
that’s relevant to you.
Complete the Deployment configuration.
Add the domain controller to an existing domain, add to an existing forest, or create a new one. In this
example, I am creating a new forest called [Link]
Set the Domain Functional Level and set a domain administrator password. I have also selected my domain
controller as the DNS server and Global [Link] find out more about Domain Functional Levels, click
here.
If required, you can configure your DNS settings on the next page. In my example, I am skipping this warning
because my domain controller will be the DNS server too. It may be different in your domain.
The installer should automatically populate the NetBIOS name on the next screen.
Next, set the location to save the AD database, log files, and SYSVOL. In this example, I will leave these
values as the default.
You may want to move NTDS and SYSVOL to separate disks in a production environment. This can
improve performance on very large AD deployments.
Click next on the Review Options and Prerequisites Check pages.
Once the installer is running, give it a few minutes to complete the installation.
Step 4 – View Active Directory Users and Computers
Then, from Server Manager, Open “Active Directory Users and Computers
Equally, you can type [Link] from the command prompt or Powershell CLI
Installing AD on Windows Server 2022 is crucial in managing users, computers, and resources in a network
environment. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that the installation is successful and that
your network environment is secure and easy to manage. Remember to verify the successful installation and access
AD tools to ensure everything works correctly.
