Prasanna Deep Adhikari

October 2024

Deploying Active Directory Domain Services on Windows

Summary: This documentation explains the process of deploying Active Directory Domain
Services (AD DS) on a Windows Server and creating organizational units and its users. AD DS
allows for centralized management of network resources and improves security and efficiency in
an organization’s IT environment. This guide is intended for IT professionals and students
looking to enhance their knowledge of Windows Server and Active Directory management.

1. First, let us configure the LAN side of Arista Router. I’ve set the IP address as
192.168.1.1/24. Also, I have set the DHCP pool from 192.168.1.100 - 192.168.1.200. Its
lease duration is 3,600 seconds.
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October 2024

2. Second, the WAN side of Arista Router needs to be configured.

3. Once we’re done with the router configuration, let’s go to the Windows Server and
configure the IPv4 address. Type ncpa.cpl in the search bar and the Network Connections
box will pop up. Right click on Ethernet or any other network you’re connected with and
select properties. The Ethernet Properties box will pop up.

Click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and configure IP address manually. In

4. Go to server manager and click on Local Server. Our goal in this step is to change the
name of our server. We are deploying a Domain Controller, so I have named this server
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October 2024

DC1. Click on computer name and change. Rename the computer to DC1, click on OK.
Once it’s renamed, the server needs to be restarted. Click on restart now.
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October 2024

5. In this step, we will install Active Directory Domain Services. First, go to add roles and
features.
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October 2024

6. Add roles and features wizard box will pop up. Click on Next till you get to the Server
Roles section. Click on Active Directory Domain Services and Add Features. Click on
next till you get to the Confirmation section. Click on Install.
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October 2024
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October 2024
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7. Click on Promote this server to a domain controller.

8. Select Add a new forest and type your Root domain name. In my case, it’s
prasannagym.site. Click Next and enter password.
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October 2024

9. Click Next till you get to the prerequisites check and hit install. You’ll then be signed out
and the server will restart.
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October 2024
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October 2024

10. Once the server is done restarting, you’ll see your domain name and administrator. Login
to your domain joined server.

11. Let us now create an Organizational Unit and an employee under it. You can create
multiple employees in multiple OUs, but for this documentation purpose, I’ll only be
creating one. Go to Tools and select Active Directory Users and Computers.
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October 2024

12. Right click on prasannagym.site, and create an Organizational Unit. I have named the OU
as Employees. Click OK.
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October 2024

13. Under Employees, I have created a company department named Executives. Under
Executives, I have created a user named Joshua Markell.
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October 2024
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October 2024
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October 2024

14. We can now login onto a PC as other user and enter Joshua Markell’s credentials. It’ll
first ask you to change the password. Once the password is changed, Joshua Markell can
log on to PC as a domain user.
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October 2024

Conclusion: In this guide, we covered the steps to deploy Active Directory Domain
Services (AD DS) and create an OU on a Windows Server. By setting up AD DS, you
can create and manage a domain, allowing centralized control of users, computers, and
network resources. This deployment is a key part of building a secure and organized IT
environment.