Promoting a server to a domain controller

In this article I will discuss how to promote your windows 2000 server to a domain controller. You would normally want to do this if your running more then 10 people in your company, want to use an exchange server, or basically make your life easier in general. This document assumes that you have already installed windows 2000 server installed all updates, and are sitting at a blank screen ready to go. Make sure you have the windows 2000 server CD-ROM ready as you will need it for part of the install.

Steps in the order I’m doing them...

0) SET UP A STATIC IP ADDRESS ON THE COMPUTER AND MAKE SURE YOU CAN BROWSE THE INTERNET FIRST.

1) start -> run -> dcpromo

2) The wizard comes up.. If this is a new domain and a new forest (I will be if this is your first server and you not connected to any other servers) just accept all the defaults until it asks you what is the domain name you wish to use. Its usually easiest to use companyname.local as your domain name. This will allow you to host the domain with out interfering with the companyname.com should you decide to host your website elsewhere.

3) when it asks you to install DNS, just say yes. This may have to be redone later but at least you will get the file copy process out of the way.

4) Hit that button to make it go, it will crank away and finally tell you its done and needs to be restarted. That’s about all there is to it. Next you need to setup the DNS properly. Trust me if you don't follow through and set up the DNS properly, nothing will work right or it will only work half way.

READ THE NEXT ARTICLE: HOW TO SET UP DNS