Enterprise Network Setup with Windows Server

A step-by-step guide to setting up an enterprise-level network environment using Hyper-V, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2022. Includes AD domain setup, DHCP, DFS, PowerShell automation, and more.

View the Project on GitHub hexwarrior6/Enterprise-Network-Setup-with-Windows-Server

Chapter 2: Installing and Configuring Active Directory Domain Services

This chapter will guide you through the process of installing and configuring Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) on Windows Server 2022, and joining two Windows 10 virtual machines to the same domain.
The DNS service will be automatically installed along with AD DS, so no additional configuration is required.

Assign Static IP Addresses to Both Domain Controllers

Setting static IP addresses for domain controllers is essential to ensure proper operation of DNS and AD services in an enterprise network environment.

Steps:

  1. Open Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center -> Change adapter settings
    Right-click the current local connection -> Properties

    img_21.png

  2. In the pop-up window, double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and configure the following settings:

    Device IP Address Subnet Mask Default Gateway Preferred DNS Alternate DNS
    DC01 192.168.1.100 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.101 Self DC02
    DC02 192.168.1.101 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.100 Self DC01
    PC01 192.168.1.120 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.100 DC01 DC02
    PC02 192.168.1.121 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.100 DC01 DC02

    img_22.png

  3. Click OK to save the settings, then open Command Prompt and enter the following command to verify the IP address configuration:

    ipconfig

    img_23.png

  4. If the settings do not take effect, try disabling and re-enabling the network adapter:

    • Return to the “Change adapter settings” interface
    • Select the current network adapter
    • Click -> Disable -> Enable

    img_24.png

Install AD Domain Services (DC01)

  1. Open Server Manager on DC01
    Click Manage -> Add Roles and Features from the top menu

    img_1.png

  2. In the Add Roles and Features Wizard, keep the installation type as default and click Next

    img_2.png

  3. Keep the server selection as default and click Next

    img_3.png

  4. On the Server Roles page, check Active Directory Domain Services
    Click Add Features when prompted

    img_4.png

  5. Keep the features selection as default and click Next

    img_5.png

  6. Leave the AD DS settings as default and continue clicking Next

    img_6.png

  7. Confirm your selections and click Install

    img_7.png

  8. After installation completes, a prompt appears saying Promote this server to a domain controller – click the link to continue

    img_8.png

Configure the Primary AD Domain Controller (DC01)

  1. Enter the new domain name: bread-makers.nz, then click Next

    img_9.png

  2. Set the DSRM password (used for directory recovery), then click Next

    img_10.png

  3. Leave DNS settings as default and click Next

    img_11.png

  4. The domain name will be auto-filled, leave it as is and click Next

    img_12.png

  5. Leave the paths as default and click Next

    img_13.png

  6. Review the installation information and click Next

    img_14.png

  7. Once the prerequisite checks complete, click Install

    img_15.png

  8. After installation finishes, the system will automatically restart – click Close to confirm the reboot

    img_16.png

  9. After rebooting, log in using the domain administrator account

    img_17.png

  10. After logging in, you can see that the AD Domain Services have been successfully installed via Server Manager

img_18.png

Configure the Secondary AD Domain Controller (DC02)

The installation steps for the AD DS role are the same as for DC01 – refer to the previous section.

  1. Click Add a domain controller to an existing domain, enter the domain name bread-makers.nz, and click Next

    img_19.png

    Note: You can view the domain administrator username on DC01:

    img_20.png

  2. Enter the domain administrator password and click OK. After verification, click Next

    img_25.png

  3. Set the DSRM password and click Next

    img_26.png

  4. Leave DNS settings as default and click Next

    img_27.png

  5. Leave additional options as default and click Next

    img_28.png

  6. Leave the path settings as default and click Next

    img_29.png

  7. Confirm the installation settings and click Next

    img_30.png

  8. Once the prerequisite checks complete, click Install

    img_31.png

  9. After installation finishes, the system will automatically restart – log in using the domain administrator account after reboot

    img_32.png

  10. After logging in, open Server Manager -> Tools -> Active Directory Users and Computers on any domain controller. You should now see both domain controllers listed under the bread-makers.nz domain

img_33.png

Summary

In this chapter, we completed the following tasks:

In the next chapter, we will continue by setting up the DHCP service to allow clients to automatically obtain IP addresses.