How to Setup Active Directory on Windows Server 2019

Windows Server 2019 is finally ready and available for download since October 2019. So, once you have downloaded and installed it, it is now time to migrate your production onto the newer server. How to Setup Active Directory on Windows Server 2019?

How to setup Active Directory on Server 2019?

Let us check out the step by step options for setting up the Active Directory on Windows Server 2019. The procedure will create AD Forest, DNS, and DHCP services.

The Experience and skill levels

Here are a few skill and experience levels you would need to have access to. This will help you work through the easy installation of the active directory.

• You need to have a clear understanding of general networking ideas. We expect you to check out your skill levels in terms of DNS, IP address, IP networks, and ability to troubleshooting the network related environments.
• Skill levels in using Virtual machines through the use of Hyper V and VirtualBox, among other virtualization techniques.
• Good knowledge of security systems
• Experience in Windows Server and other operating systems.

System Requirements

You need to have the following system requirements fulfilled before actually moving ahead to set up an active directory on your Windows Server 2019.

• A PC or other device with a minimum of dual-core i5 and i7 processors or compatible AMD processors.
• Virtualization support.
• Windows 10 Pro 64 bit. Please note that Windows 10 Home does not support virtualization techniques.
• A minimum of 8 GB of free storage
• Windows Server 2019 volume license

Step 1 – Login to the Windows Server 2019

We assume you have installed Windows Server 2019 already on your computer. Log in to your Windows Server 2019 as a local administrator.

Step 2 – Configure your IP

Make sure you have changed the name of the PC to something you would be more comfortable with. Once that done, check the IP config on your Windows Server. Under default conditions, it would read something like DHCP IP.

You will need to change it to static IP. This can be done through the use of PowerShell. Launch Windows PowerShell and enter the following command –

Get-NetIPAddress

Setting the static IP address should be quite easy and simple. Just type in the following command –

New-NetIPAddress` -InterfaceIndex x -IPAddress 192.xxx.xx.xxx -PrefixLength 24 DefaultGateway 192.168.61.2`

Please note that the IP addresses will be based on your IP configurations and you can locate them using the above Get -NetIP address command. The digit for in the command InterfaceIndex x is also found from the same option. Check the screenshot below –

Step 3 – Set up DNS IP addresses

Next task would be to configure the DNS IP addresses. You will again be able to do it using the PowerShell.

Use the following command –

Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex x -ServerAddresses ("192.xxx.xx.100","8.8.8.8")

Check that you have used the correct IP address and Interface index, as explained in the previous example. You can check if it has actually been implemented using the ipconfig /all command.

That completes the task of completing the prerequisites of how to set up Active Directory on your Windows Server.

Step 4 – Install AD- DS Roles

Before you can set up your Active Directory, you need to assign the roles for AD DS.

You can use the following command from the PowerShell.

Install-WindowsFeature –Name AD-Domain-Services –IncludeManagementTools

This will install the AD -DS Roles. This step will not need any sort of reboot for your computer. The roles should be assigned automatically.

Step 5 – Configuration of AD DS

Enter the following command to begin installing the AD DS. Here is the configuration script for the proper configuration of the AD DS.

Install-ADDSForest ` 

  -DomainName "xxx.com" ` 

  -CreateDnsDelegation:$false `  

  -DatabasePath "C:WindowsNTDS" `  

  -DomainMode "7" `  

  -DomainNetbiosName "xxx" `  

   -ForestMode "7" `  

   -InstallDns:$true `  

   -LogPath "C:WindowsNTDS" `  

   -NoRebootOnCompletion:$True `  

   -SysvolPath "C:WindowsSYSVOL" `  

  -Force:$true

Replace the domain name as per your domain name.

If you are not sure what do these commands and command lines mean and what do they do. The following table should provide you with a good insight into what it would be helpful for.

Install-WindowsFeature	This will install Windows roles and role services.
IncludeManagementTools	This will install the management tools for the chosen role services
Install-ADDSForest	This command will install a new Active Directory
DomainName	This will help you define the FQDN for the active domain for the directory
CreateDnsDelegation	This command line defines whether you want to create a DND delegation or not

The rest of the commands in the above PowerShell script should be quite dual-core.

Step 6 – Safe mode Admin Password

Once the configuration of your AD DS is done through the use of the above script, you will be prompted to enter Safe Mode Administrator password. This is needed to restore the services in case any issues arise in the future. Ensure that you are choosing a complex password. You need to meet the security recommendations suggested by Microsoft.

Step 7 – Reboot

The configuration should now complete with that step. Reboot your domain controller. Once it is rebooted, log in as the domain administrator.

That does it, and you have successfully configured the Active Directory on Windows Server 2019.

Check the Configuration

You would want to check the configuration and find if it is successful. This can be done with the following options.

Enter the following command on your PowerShell.

Get-Service adws,kdc,netlogon,dns

This command should list all the status of the active directory.

The following command should list out all the details of configuration on your domain controller

Get-ADDomainController

Use the command Get-ADDomain xxx.com (replace xxx with your domain name) to find the details about the active directory domain.

Get-ADForest xxx.com will provide you details of the Active Directory Forest.

Finally, the command Get-smbshare SYSVOL will show the sharing status of the folder.

That should do it. If you have done and configured everything correctly, the above commands should not give any error and display the relevant information.

Please note this method describes setting up the Active Directory on your Windows Server using the PowerShell method. In fact, it has been considered to be the easier option when compared to the other options available.

However, you may also check out the other options that should be available from the Windows Server dashboard itself. It can be a slightly complicated option and may need a little more technical grasp. Let us check out the method in a nutshell here.

Setup Active Directory using Server manager:

• Launch Server Manager from the START menu.
• Choose Add Roles and Features
• You should now be taken to the Before You Begin, Click on Next
• Make sure that the installation type is selected as Role-based or feature-based installation. Click on Next
• Click Next on Select Destination Server.
• Under the Server Roles, select Active Directory Domain Services, DHCP, and Make sure you have chosen the Add features option for each of them.

Click on Install to begin the installation. This will install the roles. Ensure that you do not close the window while the installation is in progress.

You would still be in the Add Roles section. Choose the option Promote this server to a domain controller.

• Click on Add new Forest
• Follow the instructions and choose the right password option Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM). Click on NEXT
• Click on NEXT and ensure that you have made no changes.
• Click on Install on the Prerequisites Check

The completion of installation should reboot your server, and you should find the new login screen.

In Conclusion

That was a complete tutorial on how to configure and set up an Active Directory on your Windows Server 2019 following the easy PowerShell method. We assume that the steps indicated here have been easy and straightforward to follow.

If you have found the other options like Windows Server dashboard easier to work with the implementation and configuration of the active directory on Windows Server, do share your inputs for both the methods.

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