Installing Active Directory Domain Services on Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 3

This article will detail how to install Active Directory Domain Services on a Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 3 virtual machine for testing. Please note that these steps are identical to Windows Server 2012 R2 and can be used there as well.

Prepare Server for Installation

Before you begin, there are a few things we need to do to prepare the server.

1. Check the server Date and Time settings to be sure that they are correct.
2. Configure the server with a static IP address
3. Configure the server with the desired hostname.
4. Make sure that Windows is activated.
5. Download and Install latest updates from Microsoft

Install Active Directory Domain Services Role

1. Log into the server with administrative credentials
2. Open Server Manager Server Manager Icon
3. On the Dashboard, locate and click Add roles and features
4. Click Next to skip the Before you begin page
5. Choose Role-based or feature-based installation and click Next

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6. Make sure that the server you are installing on is selected from the pool. Click Next to continue.

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7. Locate and select Active Directory Domain Services. In the popup box, click Add Features

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8. Click Next to continue, then Next again to skip the Select Features page.

9. Review the notes on the Active Directory Domain Services page, then click Next to continue.

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10. Finally, click Install to begin installing the role.

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Configuring Active Directory Domain Services

Now that the role has been installed, we need to actually promote the server as a domain controller and specify the domain name.

1. Open the Server Manager Server Manager Icon and locate AD DS on the left hand side of the screen
2. At the top of the window, a notice will appear stating Configuration required for Active Directory Domain Services at HOSTNAME. Within the notice, click the More… button to the right.
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3. In the new window, click Promote this server to a domain…
4. In the Deployment Configuration window, choose the options that fit your environment. In this case, I am creating a new forest and domain.

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5. Choose a Forest functional level and a Domain functional level based on your environment. Enter a DSRM password, then click Next.

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6. On the DNS Options screen, click Next
7. On the Additional Options screen, verify the NetBIOS domain name and click Next
8. On the Paths screen, leave the default values and click Next
9. Review the information and click Next
10.The wizard will now perform a prerequisite check and prompt for install. When it is completed, click Install.

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Active Directory Domain Services is now installed. As mentioned during the wizard, it is recommended that you include at least 2 domain controllers within the network in case of failure.