The Windows SBS 2011 license terms do not allow
you to use your secondary server to create another AD DS domain,
whether in the same forest or in a different one. You can, however,
configure it to function as a second domain controller in your existing
Windows SBS 2011 domain. A second domain controller provides redundancy
for times when your primary server is offline, and if your organization
has a branch office at a remote location, a second domain controller
provides users at that location with local access to AD DS services.
Tip
If you are installing a domain controller that you will be moving to
another location later, you should use an IP address on the local
network for this procedure. Just before you shut down the computer prior
to moving it, change the network settings to an IP address on the
network that will be the server’s final destination.
Promoting a server to a domain controller is a two-stage process.
First, you must install the AD DS role and then you must run the Active
Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard. To configure your
secondary server to function as a domain controller, use the following
procedure:
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Log on to your Windows SBS 2011 secondary server using a domain account with network Administrator privileges.
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Click Start. Then click Administrative Tools, Server Manager. The Server Manager Console appears.
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In the Scope (left) pane, select the Roles node.
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Click Add roles. The Add Roles Wizard appears.
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Click Next to bypass the Before You Begin page. The Select Server Roles page appears.
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Select the Active Directory Domain Services check box. The Add Features Required For Active Directory Domain Services? dialog box appears.
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Click Add required features, and then click Next. The Active Directory Domain Services page appears.
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Click Next to continue. The Confirm Installation Selections page appears.
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Click Install. The wizard installs the role and the Installation Results page appears.
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Click the Close this wizard and launch the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard (Dcpromo.exe) link. The Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard appears.
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Click Next to bypass the Welcome page. The Operating System Compatibility page appears.
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Click Next. The Choose A Deployment Configuration page appears.
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Select the Existing forest option, and then leave the Add a domain controller to an existing domain option selected and click Next. The Network Credentials page appears.
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Make sure that the full name of your AD DS domain appears in the Type the name of any domain in the forest where you plan to install this domain controller text box and click Next. The Select A Domain page appears.
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Click Next to accept the default forest root domain. The Select A Site page appears.
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Click Next to accept the Default-first-site-name site. The Additional Domain Controller Options page appears.
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Click Next to accept the
default settings. A Static Ip Address Assignment message box appears,
warning you that the computer has a dynamically assigned IP address.
Note
If you have already configured your server to use a static IP address, this message refers to the computer’s IPv6
address, which you can safely leave as a dynamically assigned address.
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Click Yes, the computer will use a dynamically assigned IP address (not recommended). An Active Directory Domain
Services Installation Wizard message box appears, advising you to
create a delegation to the DNS server in the parent zone.
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Click Yes. The Location For Database, Log Files, And SYSVOL page appears.
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Click Next to accept the default values. The Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator Password page appears.
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In the Password and Confirm password text boxes, type the password you want to use when starting the computer in Directory Services Restore Mode and click Next. The Summary page appears.
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Click Next. The wizard configures the server to function as a domain controller, and the Completing The Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard page appears.
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Click Finish. An Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard message box appears, prompting you to restart the computer.
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Click Restart now. The computer restarts.
