Microsoft has finally release Beta 3
of the much awaited successor of Windows Server 2003. Microsoft sent me
a copy of this beta 3 release - so here I am taking a look of course -
on how to build a Domain Controller on Windows Server 2007 (Longhorn)
Setup includes:
- VIRTUAL PC 2007 running on host Windows VISTA Business Ed.
- Host machine running at 2gb RAM
- Guest VM for Windows Server 2007 Longhorn running at 512mb
- Windows Server 2007 Longhorn B3 DVD
The installation is just like Vista's setup. Very straightforward,
SETUP -> PRODUCT KEY -> PARTITION/FORMAT then that's it (hmmmm..
didn't noticed the EULA) anway, here goes the walkthrough on DC
promotion:
I've used the command "DCPROMO" from the RUN Menu to start the promotion:
Then Windows will try to verify whether this system has already Active Directory Installed:
After verification, pops now the wizard:
The wizard then will ask you whether you want to create a new domain in a new forest; or to create an addition
DC to your existince forest:
I will create a new domain in my new forest. A Windows message will inform you to change the Domain
Administrator's password for security purposes. Better to put at least minimum of 14 characters or more
to your Admin password.
After that, the wizard will ask for the domain name... I'll use here the name CORPDOMAIN.COM
It will then verify if the domain name doesn't exists on the network.
A new feature here, which surprises me, the setup has now an option whether you want to raise the
your domain's functional level. In Windows 2000/Windows Server 2003, you have to raise the
domain functional level manually by going to ADUC or ADDT (Active Directory Users and Computers /
Active Directory Domains and Trusts) Thanks for this Microsoft! :)
Next is a dialog box for adding additional domain controller options. One additional here (actually is a
comeback from the NT days) is the Read Only Domain Controller (RODC). RODC can't be selected
here if you are promoting your first Domain Controller in your domain.
I will select for the meantime the defaults (DNS is required here). After that, we'll select the defaults
for the locations of Active Directory Database/Logfiles and the SYSVOL. You can change this later
you change your mind :)
As the installation progresses, we have an option here telling us if we want to automatically reboot this
domain controller after the promotion process. Per windows 2000/Windows 2003, after the installation
finishes, the wizard will pop a message informing us the a restart on the newly promoted machine is
required :)
The setup is a breeze, no problems encounted here on my experience. Just to show you, here's the newly
designed (kind of, actually it's the icons on the toolbar) Active Directory Users and Computers :)
The boot time of a newly promoted Domain Controller is way more faster than with Windows 2000/2003
Servers. That's one big improvement on the servers. According to souces, Microsoft will release this
software sometime second half of 2007.
