Primary Domain Controller (PDC) Configuration
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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.
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.
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.
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.
4. Verify Domain Controller and Forest Information
You can verify domain and forest details using PowerShell commands.
View Domain Controller Information
Get-ADDomainController
View Domain Information
Get-ADDomain
View Forest Information
Get-ADForest
These commands confirm that the domain and forest are configured correctly.
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.
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