Installing Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)

How to add Windows Server 2012 as a Domain Controller?

In this post we are going to cover how to install and Add Windows Server 2012 as a Domain Controller.

Up until Windows Server 2008 R2 we were able to use the command “dcpromo” to make a server a domain controller. But from Windows Server 2012 dcpromo is no longer available.

We have to use the Server Manager to install Active Directory Services and then Promote the Server to Domain Controller. Below are the steps.

1. Launch Server Manager

2. Click on Add role and features.

3. The Add Roles and Features Wizard will launch.

4. Select “Role-based or feature-based installation. Click Next.

5. Select the server from the pool that you want to use. Click Next.

6. Select “Active Directory Domain Services.

7.  From the Window that pops up click on “Add Features” then click on Next. Windows will detect what role you are trying to install and it will automatically select the pre-requisites for that role.

8.  Select any features if required. Click on Next.

9.  Active Directory Domain Services Wizard will start. Click on Next.

10.  Select Restart the Destination server automatically if required and click on install.

11.  Windows will start the installation of the Roles and Features you have selected, and restart if and when required.  

12. After Installation finishes, you will get the option to promote the Server to a Domain Controller.


13.  Active Directory Domain Service Configuration Wizard will start, Select “Add New Forest”. Enter the Domain name you require. E.g. wackytechtips.com Click on Next.

14.  Select Forest and Domain Functional Level as Windows Server 2012, If you have any server in the network that is Windows server 2008 then select appropriately as Forest and domain function levels cannot be changed and if You select Windows Server 2012 as the function level you cannot add a Windows Server 2008 / 2008 R2 to this domain.  Enter a strong DSRM (Directory Services Restore Mode) password. Click on Next.

15. Since DNS Services was not installed Windows Server 2012 will install the Service automatically during installation. Read the DNS warning and Click on Next.

16. NetBIOS Name will be generated automatically if it’s not complete or doesn’t fit with your domain name you can always use abbreviations instead.  (Max. 16 Characters) Click on Next.

17.  If you have more than 500 servers & domain members its recommended to have the Database, Log files and SYSVOL folder on a different hard disk. For testing purposes we keep this at default. Click on Next.

18.  Review the Information & go back to make any changes. If everything is perfect click on Next.

19. Make sure that you don’t get any errors and have cleared all Prerequisites. Click on Install.

20.  Windows will begin installing DNS Services and Reboot the computer when setup of domain is complete.

Windows will reboot.

Configuring Reverse Lookup Zone after installing Active Directory Domain Services

After you finish installing AD DS you will have to configure DNS with Reverse Lookup Zone to ensure that DNS works correctly.

Follow these steps:

1. Click on Tools & Launch DNS Manager.

2. In the DNS Manager window expand your server name and right click on Reverse Lookup Zones.

3.  Click On New Zone.

4.  New Zone Wizard launches click on Next.

5. Since this is a fresh install & the Only Domain Controller for WackyTechTips.com We are going to create a Primary Zone. Click on Next.

6.  Select "To all DNS Servers running on domain controllers in this forest: WackyTechTips.com"

7.  Select IPv4 Reverse lookup. Click Next.

8.  Enter the Network ID, Network ID is the IP address range of you server. E.g. if you server IP is 192.168.1.1 your network id is "192.168.1" Click Next.

9.  Select Allow Only secure dynamic updates (recommended for Active Directory). This option will only appear if you have installed Active Directory Services properly. Click on Next.

10.  Review the configuration and click Finish. You have successfully created a Reverse Lookup Zone.

You will now need to add a PTR (Pointer Record) for the Domain controller in the DNS Manager to ensure DNS recognized the DC and can reverse lookup.

1. Select the Reverse Zone we just created. And right click on the right pane and select New Pointer (PTR)

2.  Enter the IP address of the Server, in Host name enter the FQDN of the server e.g. dc.wackytechtips.com Click on OK.

You have successfully installed Active Directory Domain Services on Windows Server 2012. Created New Reverse Lookup Zone and Created a New Pointer Record in DNS.

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