Setting up the Domain

Let’s get started!

For this project, we will use PNET

Let’s set up our first Domain Controller (DC):

We have a Windows Server 2019 (this is the latest version supported by PNET):

Specs:

• 4vCPUS

• 2 Disks (C: 50GB / S: 20GB)

• 4GB Ram

Let’s start by logging in and changing its hostname (THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT OTHERWISE IT CAN CAUSE BIG ISSUES IF YOU RENAME A DC):

Accept and restart the server:

Set up Networking:

Static IP:

Disable IPv6:

Let’s install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS):

This will give us the tools to manage users and computers for the domain.

It asks for reboot, we accept/yes

After the server is back online, it provides us with the option to promote to Domain Controller

We are setting up a domain from scratch so we will select: Add a new forest: beyondbaremetal.local

Let’s review the additional options:

• Forest/Domain functional Level refers to the minimum Windows Server version required for all the Domain Controllers in the Forest/Domain.

• Domain Name System (DNS) Server needs to be checked, in short: AD DS relies on DNS to work.

• The Global Catalog (GC) will be checked by default. It has a read-only replicate of every object in the entire forest.

• Directory Services Restore mode (DSRM) Password: Important when we need to fix or restore a corrupted AD Database and so on.

Select Next.

Set NetBIOS domain name:

Select paths for:

• Database folder

• Log files folder

• SYSVOL Folder

For SYSVOL (It stores GPOs, logon scripts, and public domain files), it is recommended to have it on a separate drive (in this case S).

Review and Next

Install:

Once the install is complete we will be signed out and the server will restart:

After the server is rebooted we can open Server Manager and see we have many new options, including Active Directory Users and Computers:

Let’s finish by setting up DNS Forwarders (Which the server will use to resolve all queries that it doesn’t know)

Basically, we can set any public DNS but let’s set 8.8.8.8 / 1.1.1.1:

With this, we just complete the initial Domain and Domain Controller Setup.

Stay tuned for more content.

Thanks for reading!