tech79

Windows 7 Remote Desktop Activation

• An NTFS partition with enough free space


• An Administrator's username and password


• The correct operating system version


• A NIC


• Properly configured TCP/IP (IP address, subnet mask and - optional - default gateway)


• A network connection (to a hub or to another computer via a crossover cable)


• An operational DNS server (which can be installed on the DC itself)


• A Domain name that you want to use

An NTFS Partition

convert c:/fs:ntfs

• If the Append these DNS suffixes (in order) option is selected for the resolution of unqualified names, the Active Directory DNS domain name should be listed first, at the top of the list.


• Verify that the information in the DNS Suffix for this connection box is the same as the Active Directory domain name.


• Make sure that the Register this connection's addresses in DNS check box is selected.

Active Network Connection Required During Installation

The installation of Active Directory requires an active network connection. When you attempt to use DCPROMO.exe to promote a Windows Server 2008 computer to a domain controller that doesn't have a connected and active NIC, you will receive the following error message:

And after hitting Next, this error will appear:

Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard The TCP/IP networking protocol must be properly configured. Complete the configuration before you proceed.

This problem can occur if the network cable is not plugged into a hub or other network device. (Screenshot of a connected NIC)  (Sample of a disconnected or un-plugged network cable)

To resolve this problem, plug the network cable into a hub or other network device. While highly improbable that the network connection status would be disconnected in a server that is about to be deployed in a production environment, this could be the case when building the server for testing purposes. If network connectivity is not available and this is the first domain controller in a new forest, you can finish DCPROMO.exe by installing Microsoft Loopback Adapter.

DNS Configuration

A DNS server that supports Active Directory DNS entries (SRV records) must be present for Active Directory to function properly. In my Windows 2000/2003 versions of the Active Directory installation tips I recommended to manually install and configure DNS prior to running DCPROMO. However, in Windows Server 2008, and when installing the FIRST Domain Controller in the Active Directory domain, I tend to recommend that you allow the DCPROMO wizard to automatically build the proper DNS services and configuration.

Client Connections

When considering Internet connectivity, it is recommended (and in most cases, this is the proper and most-used configuration) that the client computers connect to the Internet through a NAT device (i.e. a Router that translates private IP addresses to one public one, and allows connectivity through one ISP-assigned IP address). This prevents any issues that may arise if clients obtain an IP address from your Internet service provider (ISP). In Small Office or Home Office (SOHO) scenarios, this can be achieved by using a second network adapter on the server connected to a hub. You can use NAT and Routing on the server to isolate the clients on the local network. The clients should point to the domain's INTERNAL DNS server, and NOT to the ISP's DNS server, to ensure proper DNS connectivity. The internal DNS server's forwarder will then allow the clients to access DNS addresses on the Internet.

Do not use Single-Label domain names

As a general rule, Microsoft recommends that you register DNS domain names for internal and external namespaces with Internet authorities. This is true for Windows 2000/2003 and for Windows Server 2008. This includes the DNS names of Active Directory domains, unless such names are sub-domains of names that are registered by your organization name, for example, "corp.example.com" is a sub-domain of "example.com". When you register DNS names with Internet authorities, it prevents possible name collisions should registration for the same DNS domain be requested by another organization, or if your organization merges, acquires or is acquired by another organization that uses the same DNS names.

DNS names that don't include a period ("dot", ".") are said to be single-label (for example, com, net, org, bank, companyname) and cannot be registered on the Internet with most Internet authorities.

Considerations when Installing a new Windows Server 2008 forest

• You must make forest and domain functional level decisions that determine whether your forest and domain can contain domain controllers that run Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003, or both. To read more about forest and domain functional levels please refer to the links below.


• Domain controllers running the Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 operating system are NOT supported with Windows Server 2008.


• Servers running Windows NT Server 4.0 are NOT supported by domain controllers that are running Windows Server 2008, meaning you MUST have additional DCs running Windows 2000/2003 to support older NT 4.0 servers.

nstalling Active Directory Domain Services (AD-DS)

Method 1 – Server Manager/Initial Configuration Tasks

1. Open Server Manager by clicking the icon in the Quick Launch toolbar, or from the Administrative Tools folder.


2. Wait till it finishes loading, then click on Roles > Add Roles link.



3. In the Before you begin window, click Next.



4. In the Select Server Roles window, click to select Active Directory Domain Services, and then click Next.



5. In the Active Directory Domain Services window read the provided information if you want to, and then click Next.



6. In the Confirm Installation Selections, read the provided information if you want to, and then click Next.



7. Wait till the process completes.



8. When it ends, click Close.



9. Going back to Server Manager, click on the Active Directory Domain Services link, and note that there's no information linked to it, because the DCPROMO command has not been run yet.



10. Now you can click on the DCPROMO link, or read on.


1. To run DCPROMO, enter the command in the Run command, or click on the DCPROMO link from Server Manager > Roles > Active Directory Domain Services.



2. Depending upon the question if AD-DS was previously installed or not, the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard will appear immediately or after a short while. Click Next.

1. 1. In the Before you begin window, click Next.
   
   
   
   2. In the Select Server Roles window, click to select Active Directory Domain Services, and then click Next.
   
   
   
   3. In the Active Directory Domain Services window read the provided information if you want to, and then click Next.
   
   
   
   4. In the Confirm Installation Selections, read the provided information if you want to, and then click Next.
   
   
   
   5. Wait till the process completes.
   
   
   
   6. When it ends, click Close.
   
   
   
   7. Going back to Server Manager, click on the Active Directory Domain Services link, and note that there's no information linked to it, because the DCPROMO command has not been run yet.
   
   
   
   8. Now you can click on the DCPROMO link, or read on.
      1. To run DCPROMO, enter the command in the Run command, or click on the DCPROMO link from Server Manager > Roles > Active Directory Domain Services.
      
      
      
      2. Depending upon the question if AD-DS was previously installed or not, the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard will appear immediately or after a short while. Click Next.
      
      
      
      1. 1. In the Operating System Compatibility window, read the provided information and click Next.
         
         
         
         2. In the Choosing Deployment Configuration window, click on "Create a new domain in a new forest" and click Next.
         
         
         
         3. Enter an appropriate name for the new domain. Make sure you pick the right domain name, as renaming domains is a task you will not wish to perform on a daily basis. Click Next.
         
         
         
         Note: Do NOT use single label domain names such as "mydomain" or similar. You MUST pick a full domain name such as "mydomain.local" or "mydomain.com" and so on.
         The wizard will perform checks to see if the domain name is not already in use on the local network.
         
         4. Pick the right forest function level. Windows 2000 mode is the default, and it allows the addition of Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 Domain Controllers to the forest you're creating.
         
         
         
         5. Pick the right domain function level. Windows 2000 Native mode is the default, and it allows the addition of Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 Domain Controllers to the domain you're creating.
         
         
         
         Note: If you select "Windows Server 2008" for the forest function level, you will Not be prompted to pick a domain function level.
         6. The wizard will perform checks to see if DNS is properly configured on the local network. In this case, no DNS server has been configured, therefore, the wizard will offer to automatically install DNS on this server.
         
         
         
         Note: The first DCs must also be a Global Catalog. Also, the first DCs in a forest cannot be a Read Only Domain controller.
         7. It's most likely that you'll get a warning telling you that the server has one or more dynamic IP Addresses. Running IPCONFIG /all will show that this is not the case, because as you can clearly see, I have given the server a static IP Address. So, where did this come from? The answer is IPv6. I did not manually configure the IPv6 Address, hence the warning. In a network where IPv6 is not used, you can safely ignore this warning.
         
         
         
         8. You'll probably get a warning about DNS delegation. Since no DNS has been configured yet, you can ignore the message and click Yes.
         
         
         
         9. Next, change the paths for the AD database, log files and SYSVOL folder. For large deployments, carefully plan your DC configuration to get the maximum performance. When satisfied, click Next.
         
         
         
         10. Enter the password for the Active Directory Recovery Mode. This password must be kept confidential, and because it stays constant while regular domain user passwords expire (based upon the password policy configured for the domain, the default is 42 days), it does not. This password should be complex and at least 7 characters long. I strongly suggest that you do NOT use the regular administrator's password, and that you write it down and securely store it. Click Next.
         
         
         
         11. In the Summary window review your selections, and if required, save them to an unattend answer file. When satisfied, click Next.
         
         
         
         12. The wizard will begin creating the Active Directory domain, and when finished, you will need to press Finish and reboot your computer.
         
         
         
         Note: You can automate the rebooting process by checking the Reboot on Completion checkbox.
         To automate domain controller installations, you can use an answer file or you can specify unattended installation parameters at the command line configuring a Windows Server 2008 Server Core machine REQUIRES you to perform an automated installation of Active Directory on that server, as there is NOT DCPROMO GUI on Server Core.
         Your server now acts as a Domain Controller. Make sure you properly back it up. You can test functionality by using AD management tools such as Active Directory Users and Computers, examine the Event Logs, services and folders and shares that have been created.
      
      
      

      Method 2 – Servermanagercmd.exe

      Servermanagercmd.exe is the command prompt equivalent of the Add Roles and Add Features wizards in Server Manager. Through the use of various command line options, you can quickly and easily add or remove features and roles to or from your server, including the AD-DS role.
      To install AD-DS by using Servermanagercmd.exe, simply enter the following command in the Command Prompt window:

      Servermanagercmd.exe –I ADDS-Domain-Controller

      Let the command run and when it finishes, AD-DS will be installed on the server.

      Method 3 – Letting DCPROMO do the job

      Oh yes. If you forget to install AD-DS or simply want to skip clicking on some windows, you can run DCPROMO from the Run command and before it is executed, the server will check to see if the AD-DS binaries are installed. Since they are not, they will auto-install.
      
      After you complete the Add Roles Wizard, either click the link to start the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard, or close Server Manager and manually run DCPROMO from the Run command.