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11.13.00
Today in NetworkNewz, I have written an article on the steps you should go through when you are creating an Active Directory domain controller for your network. I personally have gone through these steps many times in my MCSE class and can tell you using Active Directory can make any Network Administrator's job much more simple.

As always, if you have any articles or stories that you would like to share send them to me and I will include them in an issue of NetworkNewz.

Patrick Stoddard
NetworkNewz Editor

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As I said in last week's article, after you install the Windows 2000 software, you can configure your computer as a domain controller. The most important advantage of implementing a domain structure for your network is that you can create an administrative structure for your network. In today's article, I will discuss the procedure that you will go through to create an Active Directory domain structure for your network.

click to enlarge

The first consideration that you should take is the DNS name of your new domain, and the location for the files that will be created when you install Active Directory. Using "dcpromo" at the run command will start the Active Directory intallation wizard which will create your new domain.

The first domain you create in your network will be the root domain of your entire domain forest, and is usually called the forest root. To build a domain controller and create a Windows 2000 domain you can promote any stand-alone or member server.

However, before you install Active Directory you should make sure that the computer that it is being installed on meets certain requirements. Some of these requirements include:

  • A computer running Windows 2000 Server, Advanced Server or Datacenter Server
  • A minimum of 200 megabytes fo disk space for the Active Directory database and an additional 50 MB for the Active Directory database transaction log files
  • A partition or volume that is formatted with the NTFS file system
  • TCP/IP installed and configured to use Domain Name System (DNS)


This document provides an executive introduction to IP Multicast. It presents the basic concept, highlights its benefits, and provides suggestions for getting started. Whether you're in a TCP/IP-based enterprise or you are a vendor interested in implementing or taking advantage of IP Multicast within your product or service, this document will help you.
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1. To create a root domain go to the Run box and type "dcpromo.exe" and press enter.

2. Complete the installation by using the following information to answer the questions in the Active Directory Installation wizard.

Wizard Page Answer
Domain Controller Type Choose Domain controller for a new domain.
Create Tree or Child Domain Choose Create a new domain tree.
Create or Join Forest Choose Create a new forest of domain trees.
New Domain Name Here is where you provide the DNS name of your new network. Choose your name carefully because once you install AD you will not be able to go back and change it without uninstalling AD.
Domain NetBIOS Name This is the default that is choosen after you provide your DNS name and will be the name non-Windows 2000 computers will use to identify your new server.
Database and Log Locations Specify the location for the data base and log files. Which will usually be the default options.
Shared System Volume Specify the location for the shared system volume. Which is the folder that stores files, such as logon, logoff, startup and shutdown scripts, as well as the Group Policy information.
Permissions Specify whether to assign the default permissions on user and group objects that are compatible with servers running earlier versions of Windows.
Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator Password Specify a password to use when starting the computer in Directory Services Restore Mode.

After you have provided all the information to the installation wizard Active Directory is installed and the computer is restarted you have converted it to a domain controller.

When you have logged on to your domain controller, it is a good idea to verify that all the parameters were installed correctly. Next week I will show you how to go about verifing that all your records were installed and configured correctly.


The next generation 10-Gigabit Ethernet Standard is currently under development and is expected to come out in the next few years. This paper highlights ongoing discussions regarding several aspects of 10-Gigabit Ethernet such as market requirements, implementation structures, layer interfaces, coding techniques, frame formats, media, devices, etc.
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IT managers in search of an economical Fibre Channel SAN solution should evaluate the six-port Bullet Bundle 600 hub package from High Velocity Systems Inc.
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