Install Active Directory

Before installing Active Directory, you need to ensure that the server has the correct hostname. In this step, you need to rename the server to SADC01.

1. Login to the Server with username Administrator and password password123.
2. Open Server Manager from the Start button.
3. Close the pop-up window.
4. Click on Local Server in the left pane.
5. In the Properties section, click on the current computer name link next to Computer Name.
6. In the System Properties window, click on the Change... button.
7. In the Computer Name/Domain Changes window, enter SADC01 in the Computer name field.
8. Click OK, then click OK again on the pop up message to restart the server.
9. Click Close in the System Properties window.
10. Click on Restart Now to restart the server to apply the changes.
11. After reboot click the Check step button.

After verifying your server's prerequisites, you will install the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) role. In this step, you need to follow the prompts in the Server Manager to add the AD DS role to your server.

1. Login to the Server with username Administrator and password password123.
2. Open the Server Manager from the Start menu.
3. Close the pop-up window.
4. In the Server Manager dashboard, click on Manage in the top right corner, then select Add Roles and Features.
5. In the Add Roles and Features Wizard, click Next, then click Next again until you reach the Server Selection page.
6. Ensure your server is selected and click Next.
7. On the Server Roles page, check the box next to Active Directory Domain Services.
8. A pop-up window will appear; click Add Features to include the necessary features for AD DS.
9. Click Next through the Features page, and then again through the AD DS page.
10. Review the information on the Confirmation page, then click Install to begin the installation process.
11. Wait for the installation to complete, then click Close.
12. Click Check Step.

After installing the Active Directory Domain Services role, you need to promote the server to a Domain Controller. In this step, you will configure the server to create a new Active Directory forest.

1. In the Server Manager dashboard, click on the notification flag in the top right corner.
2. Select Promote this server to a domain controller from the dropdown menu.
3. In the Active Directory Domain Services Configuration Wizard, choose Add a new forest.
4. Enter ad.serveracademy.com as the Root domain name and click Next.
5. Set the Forest functional level and Domain functional level to the desired version (e.g., Windows Server 2025).
6. Specify a Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) password and click Next.
7. Click Next through the DNS Options page, and then again through the Additional Options page.
8. Click Next through the Paths page.
9. Review the options on the Review Options page and click Next.
10. On the Prerequisites Check page, ensure all checks are passed and click Install.
11. The server will restart automatically once the promotion is complete.
12. Click Check Step.