🚀 How to Install and Configure Active Directory (AD) in Windows Server

Requirements: ✅ A Windows Server 2019 or 2022 (clean installation)
✅ A static IP address configured
✅ Administrator access

Step 1: Set a Static IP Address

Before installing Active Directory, ensure your server has a static IP.

🔹 To set a static IP:

1. Go to Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center
2. Click Change adapter settings
3. Right-click Ethernet → Select Properties
4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Click Properties
5. Enter a static IP (e.g., 192.168.1.10)
   • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
   • Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1
   • Preferred DNS: 127.0.0.1 (or your own DNS server)
6. Click OK and close all windows

Step 2: Install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)

1. Open Server Manager
2. Click Manage → Select Add Roles and Features
3. Choose Role-based or feature-based installation → Next
4. Select your server → Click Next
5. Select Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
6. Click Add Features when prompted
7. Click Next until you reach the Confirmation page
8. Click Install and wait for completion

Step 3: Promote the Server to a Domain Controller

After installation, you need to promote the server to a Domain Controller.

1. Go to Server Manager → Click ⚠️ Notification Flag (top-right)
2. Click Promote this server to a domain controller
3. Choose Add a new forest (if you are setting up a new domain)
4. Enter your domain name (e.g., mycompany.local) → Next
5. Set Domain Functional Level & Forest Functional Level to Windows Server 2016 (or newer)
6. Check the box Domain Name System (DNS) Server
7. Set a DSRM password (for recovery purposes) → Next
8. Click Next until you reach the Prerequisites Check
9. Click Install (this will restart the server)

Step 4: Verify the Active Directory Installation

After the server reboots, verify that AD DS is running.

1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC)
   • Press Win + R, type dsa.msc, and press Enter
2. Check if your domain is listed
3. Open Active Directory Domains and Trusts
   • Press Win + R, type domain.msc, and press Enter
4. If everything looks good, AD is installed successfully! ✅

Step 5: Create User Accounts and Groups (Optional)

1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC)
2. Right-click Users → Select New → User
3. Enter Username, Password, and Security settings
4. Click Finish to create the user

Step 6: Join Client Computers to the Domain

To add Windows workstations (Windows 10/11) to your domain, follow these steps:

1. On the client computer
   • Right-click This PC → Properties
   • Click Change settings → Change
   • Under Member of, select Domain
   • Enter your domain name (e.g., mycompany.local)
2. Enter the Administrator credentials
3. Restart the client computer
4. Now, users can log in using their AD domain accounts 🎉

✅ Done!

Now your Windows Server 2019/2022 is running Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).  🚀

Conclusion

Setting up Active Directory (AD) on Windows Server is a crucial step in managing users, security, and network resources efficiently. By following this guide, you’ve successfully installed AD DS, promoted your server to a domain controller, and connected client computers to your domain.

With Active Directory, your IT infrastructure is now more secure, scalable, and manageable. You can further enhance your setup by implementing Group Policies, DNS configurations, and user role management.

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