Upgrading Windows Server 2022 to Domain Controller and Joining a Domain

1. Introduction

Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) is a crucial service for managing users, computers, and network resources within an enterprise system. This guide will walk you through deploying AD DS on Windows Server 2022, promoting the server to a Domain Controller, and connecting a workstation to the greencloud.com domain.

2. System Requirements

2.1. Domain Controller (DC) Server

• Operating System: Windows Server 2022
• Server Name: GreencloudDC
• IP Address: 192.168.204.129
• Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
• Gateway: 192.168.204.2
• DNS Server: 192.168.204.129

2.2. Workstation

• Operating System: Windows 10
• Workstation Name: da-WRK10-01
• IP Address: 192.168.129.130
• Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
• Gateway: 192.168.204.2
• DNS Server: 192.168.204.129

3. Configuring the Domain Controller on Windows Server 2022

3.1. Set a Static IP Address

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings.
2. Right-click Ethernet → Properties.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties.
4. Enter the static IP details as mentioned in section 2.1.

5. Click OK → Close to apply the settings.

 

 

3.2. Install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)

1. Open Server Manager → Click Add roles and features.

2. In the Add Roles and Features Wizard, click Next.

3. Select Role-based or feature-based installation, then click Next.

4. Select the server GreencloudDC, then click Next.

5. In the Server Roles list, check Active Directory Domain Services.

6. When prompted to install additional features, click Add Features.

7. Click Next until you reach the Confirmation page, then click Install.

Wait for the installation to complete, then click Close.

3.3. Promote the Server to a Domain Controller

1. In Server Manager, click Promote this server to a domain controller.

2. Select Add a new forest, enter the domain name: greencloud.com, then click Next.

3. In Domain Controller Options, select:

Forest functional level: Windows Server 2016

Domain functional level: Windows Server 2016

DNS Server: ✓

Global Catalog (GC): ✓

Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC): Unchecked

Enter a Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) password, e.g. Greencloud@12345 , then click Next.

 

4. In Additional Options, set the NetBIOS domain name to GREENCLOUD, then click Next.

5. Review the configuration in Review Options, then click Next.

6. In Prerequisites Check, click Install to begin the promotion process.

Once completed, the server will automatically restart.

 

 4.Connecting a Windows 10/11 Workstation to the Domain

4.1. Configure the Workstation’s IP Address

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings.
2. Select Ethernet → Properties.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties.
4. Enter the static IP details as mentioned in section 2.2.
5. Click OK → Close to apply the settings.

6. Check ping to windows server Domain controller

4.2. Join the Workstation to the Domain

1. Right-click This PC → Properties → Advanced system settings.

2. Under the Computer Name tab, click Change.

3. Select Domain, enter greencloud.com, then click OK.

4. When prompted for credentials, enter:

• Username: Administrator
• Password: Domain Controller password 5. Click OK, then restart the workstation to apply the changes.

4.3. Verify Domain Connection

Log in using the domain credentials:

• • Username: greencloud\Administrator
  • Password: Domain Controller password

Now we see the workstation has joined the domain.

5. Conclusion

This guide has successfully demonstrated how to deploy Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) on Windows Server 2022 and connect a workstation to the greencloud.com domain. After completion, your system can:
Centrally manage users, groups, and computers.
Securely authenticate logins.
Enforce security policies and system configurations via Group Policy.

To further enhance the system, consider:

• Adding a secondary Domain Controller for high availability.
• Deploying a Child Domain to manage different network segments.
• Configuring Group Policies to strengthen network security.

If you encounter any issues during deployment, review each step carefully or contact your IT department for support.