Setting up Active Directory in Windows Server 2019 (Step By Step Guide)

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to setting up Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) along with the DNS server role on Windows Server 2019. Active Directory is essential for managing network resources and user accounts in a Windows environment, making this setup critical for IT professionals.

Step 1: Prepare Your Windows Server

• Ensure you have Windows Server 2019 installed.
• Check that your server meets the system requirements for Active Directory.
• Assign a static IP address to your server to ensure stable network connectivity.

Step 2: Install Active Directory Domain Services

1. Open the Server Manager from the Start menu.
2. Click on Add roles and features.
3. In the wizard, click Next until you reach the Server Roles section.
4. Select Active Directory Domain Services.
5. Follow the prompts and click Next to install required features.
6. Review your selections and click Install. Wait for the installation to complete.

Step 3: Promote the Server to a Domain Controller

1. After installation, return to the Server Manager.
2. You will see a notification flag. Click on it and select Promote this server to a domain controller.
3. Choose whether to add a domain controller to an existing domain or create a new domain in a new forest.
   • For a new domain, select Add a new forest and enter your desired Root Domain Name (e.g., example.local).
4. Set the Domain Controller Options:
   • Choose the Forest functional level (Windows Server 2016 or later is recommended).
   • Select the Domain Name System (DNS) server option.
   • Set a Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) password.
5. Click Next and continue through the wizard, configuring additional options as needed.
6. Review your selections and click Install. The server will restart automatically.

Step 4: Configure DNS Settings

• After the server restarts, log in using your domain credentials.
• Open the DNS Manager from the Tools menu in the Server Manager.
• Verify that the DNS zone for your domain has been created:
  • Navigate to Forward Lookup Zones and check for your domain.
• Create any necessary DNS records, such as A records for hosts.

Step 5: Verify Active Directory Functionality

1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers from the Tools menu.
2. Check that the default containers (Users, Computers, etc.) are present.
3. Create a test user account to ensure that user management is functioning correctly.

Conclusion

You have successfully set up Active Directory Domain Services and DNS on Windows Server 2019. This setup enables centralized management of users and resources within your network. As next steps, consider configuring Group Policies for user management, setting up additional domain controllers for redundancy, and exploring more advanced Active Directory features such as Organizational Units (OUs) and delegation of control.