Set Up Active Directory Domain On Your Computer - Basic Guidelines

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So, you want to set up Active Directory (AD) domain on your computer! Well, if you are worried just because it sounds difficult and complicated, let me tell you that process involved in setting up the Active Directory domain is extremely simple. All you need to do is follow the basic steps and guidelines given below carefully. In order to set up AD domain, you must first ensure that you have a dedicated server that can run the Windows Server 2003 OS. It is this physical server that will actually act as the AD domain controller and get the AD service installed. In your case, your computer will serve as the domain controller.

Now, here are a few basic operations that you must perform on your computer in order to set up Active Directory -

1) Make sure you have the Windows Server 2003 CD ready with you before you proceed further. Insert it into the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive of your computer.

2) Next, go to the 'Start' menu and click on 'Run'. Key in the 'dcpromo' command in the 'Run' dialog box and press 'Enter' to launch the AD Installation Wizard.

3) You will now be presented with the wizard's 'Welcome to...' ...
... screen. Click 'Next' to proceed further.

4) The next window will prompt you to select the type of domain controller. Here, choose the 'Domain Controller for new domain' option and press 'Next'.

5) In the next window, choose the 'Domain in a new forest' option to create new domain and click 'Next'.

6) In the window that follows, you will see an option that says, 'No, just install and configure DNS on this computer'. Select it and click 'Next'.

7) In this step, you need to key in the full DNS name for your new domain in the 'New Domain Name' screen. The DNS name is a descriptive name that you want the domain to have. For instance, 'mydomain.local' can be one such name. Selecting the right domain name is one of the key steps required to set up Active Directory. Key in the desired name and click 'Next'.

8) You will now be presented with a 'NetBIOS Domain Name' window. Here, just accept the default name (set to MYDOMAIN in this case) and click 'Next'.

9) In the next window, select a folder to store the log files and database of the Active Directory. It is advisable to just select the default location (i.e. C:\Windows\NTDS) and click 'Next'.

10) Next is the 'Shared System Volume' window. Here, choose the default location (i.e. C:\Windows\SYSVOL) as the preferred location for the SYSVOL folder (which stores a copy of all the public files of the AD domain for the server) and press 'Next'.

11) Now, select the option 'Permission Compatible only with Windows 2000/Windows 2003 servers or OS' and press 'Enter'.

12) Next, you need to specify a Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator password in the presented screen. Do note this password in a secure location as you will need it to restore the AD service in case it collapses. When done, click 'Next'.

13) The last window presents a summary of all the options selected by you in the previous steps. Review them carefully and if right, click 'Next'. Click' Back' if you wish to modify anything.

Once you are done with all the aforementioned steps, the Active Directory domain starts getting created and configured. Once the process is done, you will be prompted to restart the server to apply new changes. Just restart your computer to complete the AD installation and you are done with the process! So, isn't the process to set up Active Directory a child's play?

Still have doubts? Go to SetUp Active Directory to clarify all your doubts and get more detailed information on how to create and configure various Active Directory domains.

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