If you’re configuring a Windows Server and you need to create a domain, this step-by-step guide is for you. Creating a domain on a server is three-phase process including:

1. Activation of Active Directory Domain Services

2. Creation of domain or forest

3. Creating users for the domain

Before we start this guide, let us get familiar with these terms which is involved in this process:

1. Domain: Domain is basically logical grouping of machines. It is created so that users, computers and other security peripherals can be registered on a central database, known as domain controller.

2. Domain Controller: It is a server which can manage all security aspects of a domain. Whether it is interaction of users to domain, security management, or centralized administration, a domain controller can do all of these things.

3. Active Directory: Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) is used to store information about network objects and it ensures that this information is available to network administrators and users.

4. NetBIOS: Network Basic Input/Output System basically provides session layer of networking model, allowing applications on separate systems to communicate on local network.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server 2019

Part 1: Enable Active Directory Domain Services

1. Open Server Manager. Under Dashboard, click on Add roles and features.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

2. In Add Roles and Features Wizard window, click on Next in Before You Begin section.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

3. Now choose the Installation Type as Role-based or feature-based installation and hit Next.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

4. Select the server now and then hit Next.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

5. Under Server Roles, select Active Directory Domain Services.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

6. You’ll next get a pop-up window, click Add Features in it.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

7. Then ensuring Active Directory Domain Services checked in, click Next.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

8. Moving on, under Features section, make sure you enable or select Group Policy Management and hit Next.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

9. Then click Next in AD DS section.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

10. On Confirmation, click Install.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

11. The installation may take few moments and you’ll confirmed in Results section, click Close then.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

Part 2: Create A Domain/Forest

1. Open Server Manager and click on notifications icon. Then click on Promote this server to a domain controller.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

2. This will open Active Directory Domain Services Configuration Wizard. Under Deployment Configuration, select Add a new forest.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

3. Next, under Domain Controller Options, type the DRSM password and hit Next. You can reset DRSM password later, using this guide.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

4. Moving on, under DNS Options, skip warning and click Next.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

5. Under Additional Options, let the NetBIOS domain name auto-detected, click Next.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

6. Let the default paths/foders remain set and click Next.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

7. Now review all settings and if you like to re-configure, click Previous, else click Next.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

8. So far let all prerequisites checked and click Install finally.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

9. Once the installation is completed, you’ll asked to reboot server. Click Close and let reboot complete.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

Part 3: Creating User Account On Domain

1. After reboot, open Active Directory Users and Computers using search feature.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

2. In Active Directory Users and Computers window, go to your domain name > Users. In right pane of Users, right click on empty space and select New > User.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

3. Then type in new user information and click Next.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

4. Now type a strong password for this user account and hit Next.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

5. Finally, click on Finish to complete this wizard.

How To Create Domain In Windows Server

So in this way, we’ve created a domain and also created user account on it.

Here is the video showing how to promote Windows Server 2019 as domain controller:

Next, learn how to allow Windows 10 clients to join this domain.

That’s it!

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