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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To create a new Active Directory domain on Windows Server 2022, install the AD DS role, then promote the server as the first domain controller in a new forest. Use a fully qualified DNS name, configure the DSRM password and functional levels in the wizard, and let the prerequisite checks complete before installation; the server restarts automatically after promotion.
Before you begin
This guide creates a new forest and domain on one Windows Server 2022 computer. Use a static IP address, rename the server, set the correct time zone, and install Windows updates before you begin. The server should use a DNS configuration that can reach the DNS services needed during setup.
Choose a fully qualified DNS name such as ad.example.com; a single-label name such as corp is invalid. Microsoft recommends using an internal AD namespace that differs from the organization’s external DNS name. The first domain controller in a new forest must be a Global Catalog server and cannot be a read-only domain controller (RODC).
For this example, substitute your own server name and domain. The VM specifications below describe the original home-lab example, not minimum system requirements.
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| VM name | CPU | RAM | Disk |
|---|---|---|---|
| IPMvDC1 | 2 cores | 4 GB | 90 GB |
| Host name | IP address | Example FQDN |
|---|---|---|
| IPMvDC1 | 192.168.0.81 | IPMvDC1.lab.infopressmedia.com |
For background on the lab environment, see my home lab setup.
Step 1: Install the AD DS role
- Sign in to the server and open Server Manager.
- Select Manage > Add Roles and Features, then select Next on the introductory page.
- Choose Role-based or feature-based installation and select Next.
- Select the target server from the server pool and select Next.
- On Select server roles, select Active Directory Domain Services. In the prompt, select Add Features, then select Next.
- On the Features and AD DS information pages, select Next unless you need additional features.
- Review the selections and select Install. When installation succeeds, select Promote this server to a domain controller.
If you close the wizard before promotion, return to Server Manager and use the post-deployment configuration task to resume.
Step 2: Configure the new forest
- On Deployment Configuration, select Add a new forest. Enter the fully qualified name for the root domain, such as ad.example.com, and select Next.
- On Domain Controller Options, choose Windows Server 2016 for the forest and domain functional levels if all current and planned domain controllers support it. Windows Server 2022 has no separate 2022 functional level; 2016 is its highest supported level.
- Leave Domain Name System (DNS) server selected. Enter and confirm a strong Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) password, then select Next. Store this password securely; it is used for directory recovery.
- On DNS Options, select Next for a new internal forest unless you have a parent DNS zone that needs a delegation. Use Update DNS delegation only when a parent zone exists and you can create delegation records there. A delegation warning for a standalone new forest does not by itself mean promotion must fail.
- On Additional Options, verify the automatically generated NetBIOS domain name or change it, then select Next.
- On Paths, accept or specify the database, log files, and SYSVOL locations. Do not place these on a ReFS-formatted volume.
- Review the configuration. You can select View script to save the generated PowerShell configuration. Select Next and wait for the prerequisite check to finish.
- Resolve any blocking errors, then select Install. Do not bypass prerequisite checks; promotion cannot be canceled after installation begins. The server restarts automatically when promotion succeeds.
PowerShell alternative
You can install the role and create the forest from an elevated Windows PowerShell session instead of using the GUI. Replace the example DNS name with your chosen name.
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Install the AD DS role and management tools:
Install-WindowsFeature -Name AD-Domain-Services -IncludeManagementTools
Create a new forest with Windows Server 2016 functional levels:
Install-ADDSForest -DomainName “ad.example.com” -DomainMode Win2016 -ForestMode Win2016
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The forest-install command installs DNS Server by default for a new forest and prompts for the DSRM password. Successful promotion restarts the server automatically.
After promotion
Sign in using the domain administrator credentials and confirm that DNS and Active Directory services are running. AD DS configures the domain’s DNS records during promotion; you do not need to manually add the domain as a DNS record. Configure client computers to use the domain controller’s DNS service before joining them to the domain.
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To join a Windows computer, open Advanced system settings, select the Computer Name tab, and choose Change. Select Domain, enter the domain’s FQDN, and provide credentials authorized to join computers. Accept the welcome message and restart the client when prompted.
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FAQ
Does Windows Server 2022 have a 2022 AD functional level?
No. Windows Server 2022 uses the Windows Server 2016 domain and forest functional level as its highest supported level.
Do I need to create DNS zones before promoting the first domain controller?
No. When you create a new forest, the AD DS promotion workflow installs DNS Server by default and configures the domain’s DNS records. A DNS delegation is needed only when a parent DNS zone must point to the new domain.
Why does the wizard restart the server after promotion?
The server restarts automatically after successful domain controller promotion so the new AD DS configuration can take effect.
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Can I use a short name such as “corp” for the forest root?
No. A forest-root domain name cannot be a single label. Use a fully qualified DNS name, such as ad.example.com.
What should I do if prerequisite checks fail?
Read and resolve the reported errors before installing. For example, firewall rules that block WMI or RPC can cause an “RPC server unavailable” prerequisite error. Do not bypass the checks.
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