Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard –
The Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard is the primary tool used to install or remove Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) on a Windows Server.
Key Features:
- Graphical Interface: Provides a step-by-step wizard to guide administrators through the AD DS installation/removal process.
- Promotes Server to Domain Controller: Installs AD DS roles and promotes the server to a domain controller.
- Creates or Joins Domains: Enables creating a new domain, a new forest, or joining an existing domain.
- DC Promo (Deprecated): Previously, this tool was accessed using
dcpromo.exe, but in modern Windows Server versions (2012 and later), it’s integrated into Server Manager.
How to Access –
- Open Server Manager.
- Go to Manage > Add Roles and Features.
- Select Active Directory Domain Services.
- After installation, promote the server to a domain controller using the wizard.
Purpose:
To provide a streamlined and reliable process for setting up or removing AD DS, ensuring proper configuration of a domain controller.
Let me know if you’d like a step-by-step walkthrough for a specific Windows Server version.