How to Set Up a Domain Controller

Windows domains are network servers.

Domain controllers are Windows network servers that are used to verify users' permissions on the local area network (LAN). The servers are also used to store user profile information, shared folders and application installation files. If you have a Windows server computer on your network, you can promote it as a domain controller. This configures the machine to host server processes on your network.

Instructions

1. Click the Windows Start button and select "All Programs." In the list of directories, select "Administrative Tools." Click "Manage Your Server" from the list of options.

2. Click "Add or remove a role" from the list of options at the opening screen. Click "Next" at the preliminary information window displayed. Select "Domain Controller" at the next screen that displays a list of options. Click the "Next" button.

3. Click the "Next" button at the opening "Active Directory" screen. When you install a new primary domain controller, you need to configure the machine for Active Directory, which is the central location for all the users and computers configured on the domain network.

4. Select the option that indicates if the server is a new domain controller for a new domain or you are adding a domain controller to an existing domain. Click the "Next" button. In the next screen, if this is a new domain controller, select "Domain in a new forest." If it is an existing network, select "Domain Tree in an existing forest." The term "forest" is used to identify the collection of users and computers on the network. Click the "Next" button after you've made the selection.

5. Enter a name for the domain controller. Click "Next" through each screen until you come to the administrator password window. Enter a password value for the administrator, which is used to log into the machine or restore a corrupted Active Directory forest. Click "Next."

6. Click "Next" at the final summary screen. The domain controller is installed and configured on your network. Click "Restart" to reboot the machine after the configurations are made.

References

• Windows Reference: Step By Step Guide for Windows Server 2003 Domain Controller and DNS Server Setup