How to Install Domain Controller
If you have set up a domain controller previously with Windows 2000 Server, or Windows Server 2003, then you would be familiar with the dcpromo.exe command, it will also be used to set up a Domain Controller on Windows Server 2008.
To use the command, click on Start Run and then write dcpromo Click OK
The system will start checking if Active Directory Domain Services AD DS binaries are installed, then will start installing them. The binaries could be installed if you had run the dcpromo command previously and then canceled the operation after the binaries were installed.
The Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard will start, either enable the checkbox beside Use Advanced mode installation and Click Next , or keep it unselected and click on Next
The following table lists the additional wizard pages that appear for each deployment configuration when you select the Use advanced mode installation check box.
Deployment configuration
Advanced mode installation wizard pages
New forest
Domain NetBIOS name
New domain in an existing forest
On the Choose a Deployment Configuration page, the option to create a new domain tree appears only in advanced mode installation.
Domain NetBIOS name
Source Domain Controller
Additional domain controller in an existing domain
Install from Media
Source Domain Controller
Specify Password Replication Policy
Attach a server to an account for an RODC installation
Install from Media
Source Domain Controller
The Operating System Compatibility page will be displayed, take a moment to read it and click Next
Choose Create a new domain in a new forest, Click Next
Enter the Fully Qualified Domain Name of the forest root domain inside the textbox, click Next
If you selected Use advanced mode installation on the Welcome page, the Domain NetBIOS Name page appears. On this page, type the NetBIOS name of the domain if necessary or accept the default name and then click Next.
Select the Forest Functional Level, choose the level you desire and click on Next. Make sure to read the description of each functional level to understand the difference between each one.
In the previous step, If you have selected any Forest Functional Level other than Windows Server 2008 and clicked on Next , you would then get a page to select the Domain Functional Level. Select it and then click on Next
In the Additional Domain Controller Options page, you can select to install the Domain Name Service to your server. Note that the First domain controller in a forest must be a Global Catalog thats why the checkbox beside Global Catalog is selected and it cannot be cleared. The checkbox is also selected by default when you install an additional domain controller in an existing domain, however you can clear this checkbox if you do not want the additional domain controller to be a global catalog server. The first domain controller in a new forest or in a new domain can not be a Read Only Domain Controller RODC, you can later add a RODC but you must have at least one Windows Server 2008 Domain Controller.
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