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How to Creating a Domain Controller -- Dc on Windows Server 2012

Learn how to creating a Domain Controller -- Dc on Windows Server 2012 with clear steps, practical context, and useful troubleshooting guidance.

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This updated guide examines How to Creating a Domain Controller -- Dc on Windows Server 2012 and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

1. Overview of Windows Server 2012:

As you know, in a Windows Server 2012 environment, the dcpromo command is disabled, so if you want to create DC, you need ADDS (Active Directory Domain Services) from the management interface - Server Manager. Let's get started!

First, we will change the server name and IP address to a certain address (please note that you should not get the address 192.168.0.1, then configure it to avoid trouble). Install AD DS role, in Server Manager interface, click Add roles and features as shown below:

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Note that you are with the server, we should not leave the Server name arbitrarily, but should change to something that is easy to remember. For example, in this article, I renamed the Windows Server 2012 computer to server2k12dc .

To change the name displayed on the computer, please refer to the article:

  • How to rename the computer on Windows XP.
  • Change the computer name with Windows 7 or later.

The next screen is displayed, select the Server Roles> Active Directory Domain Services section and click Add Features :

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After that, click Next and keep the default options. Go to this Confirmation window, click Install to start installing and creating the necessary domain controller service :

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The Install process is ongoing, now you can sit and relax, surf Facebook, drink coffee or do something:

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After installing the Role Domain Controller, we will now move on to the next step:

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You can refer to Microsoft documentation about the Active Directory Domain Services (Level 100) installation process.

2. Create Domain Controller - DC on Windows Server 2012:

To start creating a Domain Controller , click on the link Promote this server to a domain controller at the Role installation end screen above, or outside the Server Manager interface click Deployment Configuration as shown:

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Create a new AD forest with the name tipsmake.local , click Next :

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Next to the Domain Controller Options, select Forest Functional Level - FFL and Domain Controller Level - DCL at the default option, and enter the DSRM password. Besides, this is the first DC of the system, so Windows Server 2012 will identify itself as Global Catalog - GC , and we cannot change this option. Click Next:

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DNS alerts displayed, ignored:

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Check the NetBIOS name section. In the above step, you name AD Forest as tipsmake.local, then the NetBIOS Name part will be tipsmake :

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Next, keep the Active Directory related directories and directories (including Database, Logs and Sysvol files) and click Next:

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Check all the information, options at Review Options, or you can Export it to a script file to run with PowerShell if you click the View Script button:

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Once OK, then go to Prerequisites Check section to officially go down - create DC:

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After installing and creating DC successfully, Windows Server will restart automatically. It is important to note that during this reboot, the login account will have the domain / username form rather than the simple username as before. At the same time, in Server Manager interface, in the Tools section, you also services such as:

  • Active Directory Administrative Center
  • Active Directory Domains and Trusts
  • Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell
  • Active Directory Sites and Services
  • Active Directory Users and Computers
  • ADSI Edit
  • DNS
  • Group Policy Management

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So we have completed the step of creating and installing Domain Controller - DC on Windows Server 2012 systems.

3. Video tutorial for installing Active Directory, DNS and DHCP to create Windows Server 2012 Domain Controller:

Good luck!

FAQ

What is How to Creating a Domain Controller -- Dc on Windows Server 2012 about?

It provides a structured overview of domain controller, explains the main context, and highlights practical takeaways for readers.

Why does this topic matter?

Understanding the main concepts helps readers evaluate the issue, avoid common mistakes, and make better-informed decisions.

How should readers use this information?

Use the guidance as a practical starting point, confirm details that may have changed, and follow current product, safety, or security recommendations.

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