How to Install Active Directory

In the Windows 2000/2003/2008 Servers Active directory is a directory structure that stores the information about the organization’s data, objects, computer network services and domain.  Active directory holds a large number of network services that perform different functions. The main services include DNS, DHCP, IIS, FSMO, forest, domain and others.  AD has been designed to provide the distributed networking services and allow the large organizations to develop the centralized directories and network resources.  Physically the active directory information is stored on the domain controller. 

Active directory is required to promote a stand alone server to a domain controller. Directory services have the entries for the users, groups, workstations, scripts, servers, policies, devices and resources in the IT infrastructure. AD is used for the internal, external and application directory. The installation of the Active directory is easy and does not require the much configuration and you can proceed with the installation process directly.

The AD deployment wizard prompts you to create Tree or child domain, create or join forest, provide new domain name, NETBIOS name, database log location, shared volume permission and Directory services restore password. Make sure that you are installing the active directory on the NTFS formatted partition.

Requirements

• An NTFS partition.
• Correct operating system version.
• A NIC
• A properly configured TCP/IP
• A network connection to a hub/switch or router.
• A Domain name that you want to use.
• Windows 2003 Server CD.

Installations

• Insert the Windows 2000/2003 CD.
• Click start > run and type dcpromo and press enter.
• Active directory installation wizard will be started.
• Click next and select the “domain controller for a new domain and click next.
• Select a domain in the new forest.
• Provide the fully qualified domain name and click next.
• Enter the NETBIOS name and click next.
• Select the best options from 1.  Permission compatible with Pre Windows 2000 server operating systems and 2. Permission compatible only with Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 operating systems.
• Set the Active directory restore password.  It is not the same as your domain administrator password.
• Click next.
• Active directory installation process begins.
• During the installation process do not click cancel.  The installation process will automatically be completed.
• When the installation is completed click finish and restart the computer. 

Active directory provides the benefits such as site scalability, simplified domain logon, management console, enhanced LDAP security, schema enhancements, interoperability, user management and network resources management.  AD reduces the burden the management on the IT professionals, increases the productivity of the users, improved fault tolerance and enhanced security features.