On Windows Server Systems, a DC, domain controller, is a server that responds to security authentication requests (logging in, checking permissions, etc.) within the Windows Server domain. A domain is a concept introduced in Windows NT whereby a user may be granted access to a number of computer resources with the use of a single username and password combination. The following are the steps to create the first domain controller:
1. Click Start -> Run.
2. Type "dcpromo" and click "OK"
3. After seeing the first window of the wizard, read the help associated with Active Directory and then click "Next"
4. Click "Next" on the compatibility window, and in the next window keep the default option of "Domain Controller for a new domain" selected, and click "Next"
5. Create a domain in a new forest, because it is the first DC, so keep that option selected
6. Now you need to think of a name for our domain. If you own a web domain like "edusoftmax.com", you can use it, but it isn't suggested because computers inside of your domain may not be able to reach the company website. Active Directory domains don't need to be "real" domains like the one above - they can be anything you wish. So you can create "edusoftmax.testdomain"
7. Use the first part of your domain ("edusoftmax"), which is the default selection, as the NetBIOS name of the domain
8. The next dialog suggests storing the AD database and log on separate hard disks, and keep the defaults
9. The SYSVOL folder is a public share, where things like .MSI software packages can be kept when you will distribute packages. Once again, keep the default selection but it can be changed if you wish to use the space of another drive
10. Now you will get a message saying that you will need a DNS server in order for everything to work the way we want it (i.e., our "edusoftmax.testdomain" to be reachable). Keep the default selection of "Install and configure", and click "Next"
11. Keep the default of "Permissions compatible only with Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 operating systems" and click "Next"
12. The restore mode password is the single password that all administrators hope to never use, however they should also never forget it because this is the single password that might save a failed server.
13. Now you will see a summary. Make sure it's all correct because changing it afterwards can prove to be difficult.
14. After the previous next was clicked, the actual process occurs. This can take several minutes. It's likely that you will be prompted for your Windows Server 2003 CD (for DNS) so have it ready.
17. Done.
