Windows: How do I create a domain?

[Asnrefugee]

What steps do I have to take to build a domain?

 

[stash]

Boy thats quite a question...

You need a server running Windows 2000 Server or 2003 Server. You need DNS. You need to run dcpromo. You need to read a lot before you do this.

 

[blcjr]

Originally posted by: STaSh
Boy thats quite a question...

You need a server running Windows 2000 Server or 2003 Server. You need DNS. You need to run dcpromo. You need to read a lot before you do this.

^what he said.

The basic process isn't hard, assuming you know what you are doing. When you run dcpromo, a wizard steps you through the process. But you get asked lots of questions that require some understanding of what you are doing. Your best bet would be to start with a test/lab environment, and learn by doing.

FWIW, I always make sure that DNS is not installed on the server I am promoting as the first server in a new domain. The wizard will see this, and will give you the option to install DNS during the dcpromo processes (select "Yes" obviously). This always works for me. What doesn't always work for me is promoting a server already running DNS; the promotion will work, but I cannot always add new dc's to the resulting domain without DNS errors. I suspect this is because AD requires DNS to be configured quite particularly, and it is just easier to let the wizard to the installation and configuration of the initial DNS server in a new (forest root) domain.

^what he said (about needing to read a lot before you do this...unless it is a test/lab environment where you can learn from your mistakes).

 

[SpeedFreak03]

No offense at all to you, but if you need to ask this question, then most of the time you dont need a domain. Now if you are starting a course of some sort and just want practice, then ignore my comment lol. But I remember that before I learned how to do it right, I screwed up my network REALLY badly. Anyway, you need Windows 2000 Server or Advanced Server, or Windows 2003 server. One more thing though, if this is just for a home network, it really isn't needed. I played around with domains for a while on my home network (my friend's company shut down and he sold me his win2k server for cheap!), and I concluded that I just don't have enough data/users/computers/etc to warrent setting up the permissions and everything that goes with domains. So I just run a linux file server!