(Longhorn) Installing your first domain controller

In this article shows how to install a domain controller in Windows Longhorn.After Installing Longhorn the Operating System starts with Initial Configuration Tasks.

The “Initial Configuration” page is like the “Configure your sever”page in Windows Server 2003. Something we got used to (but hardly used) in Windows 2003. Microsoft has renamed the Active Directory Installation Wizard to Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS) Installation Wizard. Kind of logic as they renamed there Active Directory Services (ADS) to Active Directory Domain Services.

Instead of starting the Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS) installation wizard through the init configuration wizard, we will start the wizard by typing DCPROMO /ADV in the run box. Yes I know, old habits die hard.

The Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS) Installation Wizard starts.

After a phew moments you see the first step in the ADDS installation Wizard. You see that the advanced mode is enabled by using the /adv switch.

Click Next.
Fill in your NetBios Name:

Click Next

In this screen you select what you want to create:

1. Add your domain controller to an existing Domain/forest.
2. Create a new domain in an existing forest.
3. Create a new domain in a new forest.

So far everything is pretty straight forward, and except of some new naming conventions nothing out of the ordinary.

For our purposes we select create a new domain in a new forest

Click Next

Fill in your Full domain name.
Example: test.local

click next.

Select your domain functional level. There are 3 levels:

1. Windows 2000: Select this if you are planning on using Windows 2000 domain controllers in your forest.
2. Windows 2003: Select this if you are planning on using Windows 2003 domain controllers in your forest.
3. Windows Server Codename “Longhorn”: Select this if you are planning on using Windows Longhorn domain controllers in your forest.

Click Next:

If you select any forest functional level other than Windows Server "Longhorn", the Set Domain Functional Level page appears next.
As it is a new domain in a new forest, my choice was Longhorn Functional level. So you will not see that screen.

As this is a new server in a new domain and forest, you need to specify a DNS server. As there is no DNS server available, this option will be installed by the wizard.

Because it also the first domain controller in the domain/forest this will automatically be configured as a Global Catalogue.

Notice the RODC, RODC is a read only domain controller. A new feature which is available in Windows Longhorn.

ADDS: Read-Only Domain Controllers

A read-only domain controller (RODC) is a new type of domain controller in the Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" operating system. With an RODC, organizations can easily deploy a domain controller in locations where physical security cannot be guaranteed. An RODC hosts read-only partitions of the Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS) database.
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/longhorn/en/library/ce82863f-9303-444f-9bb3-ecaf649bd3dd1033.mspx?mfr=true Click Next

On the Location for Database, Log Files, and SYSVOL page, type or browse to the volume and folder locations for the database file, the directory service log files, and the SYSVOL files, and then click Next.

For our testing purposes, we leave everything default.

On the Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator Password page, type and confirm the restore mode password, and then click Next. This password must be used to start ADDS in Directory Service Restore Mode for tasks that must be performed offline.

On the Summary page, review your selections. Click Back to change any selections, if necessary.

To save the selected settings to an answer file that you can use to automate subsequent ADDS operations, click Export settings. Type the name for your answer file, and then click Save.

When you are sure that your selections are accurate, click Next to install ADDS.

You can either select the Reboot on completion check box to have the server restart automatically or you can restart the server to complete the ADDS installation when you are prompted to do so.

If you did not fill in the check box, you see following screen last.

When you click finish, Windows will prompt you to reboot the system.