How to Promote Windows Server as a Domain Controller

No more DCPromo, Just add roles and you can promote as a Domain Controller

Article Supports Windows Server 2016 and 2019

Using Powershell

Rename Computer –

Rename-Computer -NewName AD001 -Restart

Rename Domain Name as per your requirements in below commands-

Add-WindowsFeature AD-Domain-Services -IncludeManagementTools

Install-ADDSForest -DomainName "Azure365pro.com" -InstallDNS

Active Directory Domain is ready.

Using GUI –

Lets See how to do it

Open Server Manager

Choose Add Roles and Features

Choose Role-Bases or Feature-Based installation

Make Sure it reflects the right Ip address . If it doesn’t Close Server manager and Reopen it

Choose Active Directory Domain Services

Choose Next

Choose Install

Choose Close

Now Roles are Added but , Its not a Domain Controller Yet

Click on More or the Flag

Choose Promote this Server to a Domain Controller

Am Building a new forest

Choosing _ Add a New forest

It does have Function level of Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2012

you can Skip it.

If you are Curious See –

What is DNS Delegation

Choose the NetBios Name

Leave it as default

If you are planning to promote more Domain Controllers , You can Use a Script like below

Which will give us more ease of deployment

Now to Access your Active Directory Services. use the Windows Start Button to access the features

Pin the important ones to start menu. So that it will be easily accessible for you