Active Directory Installation and Configuration on Windows Server 2019

Installing and configuring Active Directory on Windows Server 2019 involves several steps. Active Directory is a critical component for managing users, computers, and resources in a Windows network. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set up Active Directory on Windows Server 2019:

Note: Before you begin, make sure you have a Windows Server 2019 machine installed with a static IP address.

Step 1: Install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)

1. Open “Server Manager” from the taskbar or Start menu.
2. In the “Server Manager” window, click on “Manage” in the top-right corner and select “Add Roles and Features.”
3. The “Add Roles and Features Wizard” will open. Click “Next” on the “Before you begin” screen.
4. Choose “Role-based or feature-based installation” and click “Next.”
5. Select your server from the server pool and click “Next.”
6. In the “Roles” section, select “Active Directory Domain Services.” A popup window will appear, asking you to add required features. Click “Add Features” and then click “Next.”
7. Review the information on the “Active Directory Domain Services” screen and click “Next.”
8. Click “Next” through the “Features” and “AD DS” screens, as there are no additional features to install.
9. On the “Confirmation” screen, review your selections and click “Install” to begin the installation process.
10. Wait for the installation to complete, and then click “Close” when it’s done.

Step 2: Promote the Server to a Domain Controller

1. After the AD DS role installation is complete, a notification will appear in Server Manager. Click on “Promote this server to a domain controller.”
2. In the “Active Directory Domain Services Configuration Wizard,” select “Add a new forest” if this is the first domain controller in your forest. Enter a root domain name for your forest (e.g., “mydomain.local”) and click “Next.”
3. Set the forest and domain functional levels. In most cases, you can leave these at their default values unless you have specific requirements. Click “Next.”
4. Configure the Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) password and click “Next.”
5. Review the NetBIOS domain name and click “Next.”
6. Choose the location for the Active Directory database, log files, and SYSVOL folder or leave them at their default locations. Click “Next.”
7. Review your selections and click “Next” on the “Review Options” screen.
8. The wizard will run a prerequisite check. If everything is fine, click “Install” to promote the server to a domain controller.
9. The server will automatically restart after the promotion process completes.

Step 3: Active Directory Configuration

1. After the server reboots, log in using your domain administrator credentials.
2. Open “Server Manager,” click on “Tools” in the top-right corner, and select “Active Directory Users and Computers.”
3. You can now create organizational units (OUs), user accounts, groups, and configure various Active Directory settings based on your organization’s requirements.

Step 4: DNS Configuration

Active Directory relies heavily on DNS. Ensure that your server is configured with a DNS server and that your clients use this DNS server for name resolution.

That’s it! You’ve successfully installed and configured Active Directory on Windows Server 2019. You can now start adding users, computers, and other objects to your domain and manage them using Active Directory tools.