How to Setup Domain Controllers on Windows Server 2025 - Part 1

Install Windows Server

1. Download Windows Server 2025:
   Obtain the ISO file from the official Microsoft website or your MSDN subscription.

2. Create a Bootable USB:
   Use a tool like Rufus or the Windows Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive with the Windows Server ISO.

3. Boot from USB:
   Insert the USB drive into your server and boot from it. You may need to change the boot order in the BIOS/UEFI settings.

4. Install Windows Server:

   • Select your language, time, and currency preferences.
   • Select “Install Windows Server” and agree to everything being deleted.
   • Choose the edition of Windows Server you want to install (Standard or Datacenter).
   • Accept the license terms.
   • Select the drive where you want to install Windows Server (you may need to load a driver).

Configure Windows Server

1. Set Administrator Password:
   Enter a strong password for the built-in Administrator account.

2. Set Timezone:
   Change the timezone to match your location.

3. Assign a Static IP Address:
   • Assign a static IP address for your Domain Controller.
   • Optionally, configure the DNS servers your Domain Controller will resolve to.

4. Rename the Server:
   Change the name of your server to conform to a standard naming convention (e.g., ORG-DC1).

5. Install Drivers:
   Ensure all necessary drivers are installed, especially if you are using a virtual machine.

6. Run Windows Updates:
   Install all available updates to get the latest security patches for the operating system.

Resources

• Windows Server 2025 Evaluation: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/download-windows-server-2025
• Windows Server 2022 Evaluation: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/download-windows-server-2022
• Windows Server 2019 Evaluation: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/download-windows-server-2019