If you’re an IT Pro or system administrator, then you definitely need to mastering how to configuring Active Directory Domain Services on Windows Server. In this article provides you with a detailed step by step to guide you quickly deploying ADDS on Windows Server 2022. (Note the same steps also applied to Windows Server 2012 – 2025)
Before you initializing the configuration you need to know that there two main methods to setup ADDS on Windows Server:
- Via “Add Roles and Features Wizard” for Windows Server with GUI (desktop experience)
- Via Powershell comlets for both Windows Server with GUI (desktop experience ) & Windows Server Nano
In the following we’re go with the 1st option to deploy ADDS on Windows Server 2022 with GUI (desktop experience).
1.Open up “Server Manager” > click “Add Roles and Features”.
2. Click “Next” on the “Before You Begin” window.
3. Click “Next” on the “Installation Type” window, go with default “Role-based or feature-based installation”.
4. Click “Next” on the “Server Selection” window, unless you have multiple servers in the Server Pool.
5. Select “Active Directory Domain Services” on the “Server Roles” window.
6. Click “Add Features” on the pop up window of “Add features that are required for Active Directory Domain Services?”
7. Click “Next” on the current window and remain default settings.
8. Select “DNS Server” on the current window then click “Next”.
9. Click “Add Features” on the window of “Add features that are required for DNS Server”.
10. If you’re saw below warning, then do be nervous just go to “Network and Sharing Center” to setup with a static IP address.
11. See below my example of assigning with an IPv4 address.
12. Click “Next” on the current window.
13. Click “Next” on the “Features” window.
14. Click “Next” on the “AD DS” window.
15. Click “Next” on the “DNS Server” window.
16. Click “Install” on the “Confirmation” window.
17. Then waiting for the installation to be finished on the “Results” window.
18. Once completed, if no errors then click “Close” button on the “Results” window.
19. Click “Promote this server to a domain controller” via the right corner of the Server Manager.
20. Select “Add a new forest” > then enter your root domain name > click “Next”.
21. Enter your password for the Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) password > then click “Next”.
22. Click “Next” on the “DNS Options” window.
23. Click “Next” on the “Additional Options” window.
24. Click “Next” on the “Paths” window. Better to remain the same paths unless you have special thoughts on your mind.
25. Click “Next” on the “Review Options” window.
26. Click “Install” on the “Prerequisites Check” window.
27. Waiting for the installation to be finalized. Once completed it will pop up a notification to inform you will be auto-restart within 1 minute.
28. When it restart successfully, then you should see window like below or asking you to enter a domain account to login.
29. When login in successfully and all services are started without issue then all completed.
30. You may then open Server Manager > Tools > Active Directory Users and Computers to manipulate users or computers.
