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[[Main Page|Home]] > [[Windows]] > [[Windows Server Roles and Features]] > [[Primary Domain Controller (PDC) Configuration]]

= '''Primary Domain Controller (PDC) Configuration''' =

== '''Overview''' ==
A '''Primary Domain Controller (PDC)''' is the first domain controller in a new Active Directory forest.  
It is responsible for managing the domain database, authentication, and replication with any future Additional Domain Controllers (ADCs).

This guide explains how to install and configure the PDC role, set up DNS reverse lookup, and verify domain information.

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== '''1. Install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) and DNS''' ==

=== '''Step 1: Add Roles and Features''' ===
1. Open the '''Server Manager''' and select '''Add Roles and Features'''.  
2. Choose '''Role-based or feature-based installation''' → click '''Next'''.  
3. Click '''Next''' again to select the local server.

=== '''Step 2: Select Required Roles''' ===
1. Select the following roles:
   * '''Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)'''
   * '''DNS Server'''
2. When prompted, click '''Add Features''' in the pop-up window.  
3. Click '''Next''' until you reach the '''Install''' button.  
4. Click '''Install'''.  
5. Wait for the installation to complete, then click '''Close'''.

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== '''2. Configure the Domain Controller''' ==

=== '''Step 1: Promote This Server to a Domain Controller''' ===
1. In '''Server Manager''', click the notification flag → select '''Promote this server to a domain controller'''.  
2. Choose '''Add a new forest'''.  
3. Enter the '''Root domain name''' (for example: ''example.local'').  

=== '''Step 2: Configure Domain and Forest Options''' ===
1. Set the '''Forest Functional Level''' and '''Domain Functional Level''' to '''Windows Server 2012'''.  
   (These can be raised later to a higher level, such as 2016 or later.)  
2. Select the following options:
   * '''Domain Name System (DNS) Server'''
   * '''Global Catalog (GC)'''  
3. Set a password for '''Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM)'''.  
4. Click '''Next''' until you reach the '''Install''' button.  
5. Click '''Install'''.  
6. After installation, the system will automatically restart.  
7. Once restarted, the domain configuration will be completed successfully.

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== '''3. Configure DNS Reverse Lookup Zone''' ==

=== '''Step 1: Open DNS Manager''' ===
1. Open '''DNS Manager''' from '''Server Manager → Tools → DNS'''.

=== '''Step 2: Create a Reverse Lookup Zone''' ===
1. Expand your domain (for example: ''example.local'').  
2. Right-click on '''Reverse Lookup Zones''' and select '''New Zone'''.  
3. Click '''Next'''.  
4. Select '''Primary Zone''' → click '''Next'''.  
5. Select '''IPv4 Reverse Lookup Zone''' → click '''Next'''.  
6. Enter the network portion of your IP address (for example: ''192.168.1'') → click '''Next'''.  
7. Click '''Next''' again, then '''Finish''' to complete the zone creation.

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== '''4. Verify Domain Controller and Forest Information''' ==

You can verify domain and forest details using PowerShell commands.

=== '''View Domain Controller Information''' ===
<pre>
Get-ADDomainController
</pre>

=== '''View Domain Information''' ===
<pre>
Get-ADDomain
</pre>

=== '''View Forest Information''' ===
<pre>
Get-ADForest
</pre>

These commands confirm that the domain and forest are configured correctly.

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'''Summary:'''  
This document provides a complete guide for setting up a Primary Domain Controller (PDC), configuring DNS reverse lookup, and verifying Active Directory information using PowerShell commands.  
It serves as a quick reference for future Active Directory deployment and management tasks.


[[Main Page|Home]] > [[Windows]] > [[Windows Server Roles and Features]] > [[Primary Domain Controller (PDC) Configuration]]