Hi folks, let us today learn about how to promote a domain controller. Once the system is ready for the promotion of domain controller. if you want to learn how to prepare the system for Domain Controller promotion. please prior to this read the following article/blog of mine.

Preparing Server for the promotion of Domain Controller

So, to promote a server to domain controller. after completion of the prereq's for it. you will get notified in server manager which will say a message "Promote this server to Domain Controller".

Click on the Blue link "Promote this server to a domain controller", once clicked the promotion wizard will be opened.

Domain Controller is the system that is father of the organisational network. it controls all the machines and network management. for this first of all we need to make a forest.

What is a Forest?

Forest can easily be defined as collection of domains, the container that up-hold multiple domains within it.

so to make this network first domain controller we will select Add a Forest from the above wizard and give forest a name, forest is also known as root domain of the network.

For now let us consider "dc.pk" as the domain name. Click next,

Clicking next will take you to the next screen at wizard, which is about Domain Controller Options. In here, Forest Functional level and Domain Functional Level are the critical concepts to be understood.

Let us talk about both of them, Forest Functional Level is the lowest version of Server operating system within the forest. lets say we choose Server 2012 R2 as Forest Functional Level, it means that all over the network the lowest version of OS that can be part of the network will be Server 2012R2, irrespective of how many domains a network have. this functional level applies to all over the forest.

Let us say the organisation operates in multiple domains, for understanding let us consider that my organisation operates in Travel and Cargo services, for both services different computers are there, but within the single forest for now lets say "ME Travels".

Domain Functional Level, help us decide that which is the lowest version of server operating system that will be managing the system within each domain. I hope it is much clear now.

Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) Password?

This services help us protect the documents and the directory services for your organisation. with help of the password, this password is set by the owner so that no one in the organisation can access the exported or stolen assets or data of the organisation. it will require a password to access successfully. After Setting a password and functional level for the root domain click Next,

As it is the first computer of the domain hence no DNS Delegation is required for now, click next.

NetBios is defined as a path for the domain, the left side for the domain "dc.pk" DC is the NetBIOS name of the Domain. click next.

Now the wizard shows us the path, path for database of the domain, Log files of the domain, SysVol of the domain. where as Database is well known thing. but let me tell you that log files are storing the events that happening within the OS and the SysVol are the maintained ones of the saved password within the system.

Click Next,

It will show all the options that you have selected so far, to review all the option once reviewed, click Next.

Once the the Prerequisites Check is passed, Click Install.

After Some time the system will restart.

After Restart, the system will be a Domain Controller,

you will login, see the local server

Now its the Domain Controller for the domain "dc.pk".

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