Install Windows Server 2008 R2 64 bit version

1. Exchange Server 2010 is a 64 bit application and requires a 64 bit Server Operating System

2. After Server 2008 installation, then set the clock and set the name of the Server

3. The server is presently configured as standalone with default settings

Configure a static IP address because the server will be configured as a domain controller

1. Go to the server manager screen and click View Network Connections

2. Double click the icon for the active network adapter (local area connection) to display the adapter status

3. In the Status screen, click the Properties button

4. Click to highlight the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/Ipv4) and Click the Properties button

5. Click the radio button next to “Use the following IP address:” and then enter the IP address that you want to use for this server, for example, 192.168.1.2

6. After entering the IP address, click the “tab” key and the subnet mask 255.255.255.0 should appear in the entry boxes of the next line (which is fine)

7. Click the “tab” key and enter the default gateway IP address (which is the gateway address on the local network “LAN” side of you router which provides the network address translation “NAT” over to the public IP side “WAN side” of the router). This number is usually something like 192.168.1.1

8. Click the radio button next to “Use the following DNS server addresses:” and, under preferred DNS server, enter the same server IP address (that you chose) for the IP address of the server. It is important to include this server’s IP in the DNS server list as the first entry in the list of DNS servers. You can add other alternated DNS servers that you maintain or as provided by your ISP. Note that later when installing Exchange Server, it may be necessary to correct the first DNS to 127.0.0.1 (your server’s localhost) and secondary DNS to the local IP assigned to the network interface of the server, such as 192.168.1.2.  Otherwise, Exchange installation wizard will give you a warning that an MX record or an Address (A) record cannot be verified on the IP address 127.0.0.1 (or on 192.168.1.1 as the case may be at the time).

9. Note: Exchange 2010 requires that you leave IP v6 enabled. So, do NOT disable IP v6 or else the Exchange Hub Transport Service will not start when exchange is installed.

10. Close the network connections screen

Install Active Directory. When Active Directory is both installed and configured (a two step process), then Windows Server will be a Domain Controller

1. Go to “Computer Management” screen and press the “Add Roles” link. Under “Server Roles” it says “Select one or more roles to install on this server.”

2. Check the box next to “Active Directory Domain Services” at which time the add roles wizard says that “you cannot install Active Directory Services unless the required features are also installed. The “Features:” list will include .NET Framework 3.5.1 Features

3. Click the Button for “Add Required Features” and acknowledge by clicking “Next”

4. The installation will scan and inform of any other prerequisites. If there are other prerequisites or errors, please correct these and repeat the add roles installation

5. When the Setup program says that all prerequisites are met, then click the install button to commence this installation process. The setup program will now install Active Directory on your Server

6. When the installation is completed, there should be a message indicating that the “Installation Succeeded”

7. Click “Close” to close the Add roles wizard’s “Installation Results” screen in order to return to the Server Management screen.

Configure Active Directory. You should see that the role of Active Directory Domain Services is installed when you are viewing the Server Manager page. It will show a red “x” to indicate the Active Directory Domain Services have errors, namely, that these Services have not been configured.

1. Click on the line under Roles that is labeled “Active Directory Domain Services” and the Server Manager will show you a page about the status of the Active Directory Role.

2. Click on the link that says “Run the Active Directory Services Installation Wizard (dcpromo.exe)” and click “Next” when the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard appears.

3. The Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard will display information about Server 2008 domain controllers having a new more secure default for the security setting named “Allow cryptography algorithms compatible with Windows NT 4.0” (which setting is disabled or not configured by default). It explains that this setting prevents Windows and non-Microsoft SMB clients from using weaker NT 4.0 style cryptography algorithms. As a result, applications that require a security channel serviced by Server 2008 domain controllers might fail, for example, certain NAS devices that do not support stronger cryptography algorithms, and certain operations on clients running versino of Windows earlier than Vista SP1 are also impacted. If this is going to be a problem, see KB Article 942564 http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=104751 The following hotfix package may be applied to computers that are running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 to resolve this issue: http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/944043 Description of the Windows Server 2008 read-only domain controller compatibility pack for Windows Server 2003 clients and for Windows XP clients and for pre-sp1 Windows Vista. CLICK NEXT.

4. Choose a Deployment Configuration. At this point, you can create a domain controller for an existing forest or for a new forest.

   1. If this Exchange Server will be the first Domain Controller, then choose the radio button for “create a new domain in a new forest” and click the Next button.

   2. If there is an existing Domain Controller and you want to continue the same domain name, then you may wish to choose the radio button “Existing Forest” and the sub-radion button for either: “Add a domain controller to an existing domain” or “Create a new domain in an exiting forest” in which case this server will become the first domain controller in the newly created domain.” Click the Next button.

5. Enter the name of your local Domain, which will be the domain name that Exchange will associate with all of your email. When creating a new domain name in a new forest, this domain name becomes the “Name of the Forest Root Domain” because the first domain in the forest is the forest root domain. It’s name is also the name of the forest. Note: If you are on a local network (LAN) behind a router’s NAT firewall, then you may want to distinguish your local network domain name from your public domain name by using either the suffix “.local” or “.lan” instead of a public network domain suffix like “.com” or “.net.” Once you have decided on the name of your internal domain, this name will be your Active Directory Domain and the domain that is serviced by Exchange.

   1. You will enter this internal domain name in the input box under the heading “FQDN of the forest root domain.” Click the Next button.

6. Set Forest Functional Level. The Installation Wizard will now ask you about compatibility of domain controller active directory servers at the forest level. If you plan to have domain controllers running various versions of Active Directory, then you will want to chose a function level to include the lowest version of Windows Server that you are using for domain controllers. For example, if you have and plan to keep a Windows 2003 domain controller in service, then select “Windows Server 2003” from the drop down list and click Next.

7. Set Domain Functional Level. The Installation Wizard will now ask you a similar question about domain controller active directory server compatibility at the domain level. Include the same function level namely the lowest version of Windows you plan to use for domain controllers. For example, if you have and plan to keep a Windows 2003 domain controller in service, then select “Windows Server 2003” from the drop down list and click Next.

8. Additional Domain Controller Options. The installation wizard recommends to install the DNS Server service on the first domain controller. So, if this is the first domain controller, check the box to add DNS Server service and make this domain controller a DNS server running locally. Note: The first domain controller in a forest must be a global catalog server and cannot be an RODC. The Installation Wizard will also automatically make this computer a global catalog server if a new forest and first domain are being created. Press Next.

9. Specify Location for Database, Log Files, and SYSVOL. You can specify where you want Active Directory to store its data. If you only have one drive in your Server, then it is recommended to use the prepopulated defaults. If you have multiple drives, you can select which drive to use. Click Next.

10. Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator Password. The Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator account is different from the domain Administrator account. Assign a password for the Adminstrator account that will be used when this domain controller is started in Directory Services Restore Mode. Write down the password. It is different than the domain Adminstrator password, and will not change when the domain Adminstrator password is changed.

11. Review Your Selections. The Installation Wizard will summarize the configuration that it is about to create. To start the process of configuring your new Domain Controller, click Next.

    1. The Installation Wizard will show its progress as it configures your Server. This will take a long time. The installation wizard dialog says “The wizard is configuring Active Directory Domain Services. This process can take from a few minutes to several hours, depending on your environmnet and the options that you selected. . . . Installing Group Policy Management Console . . . ” No need to check the box that says Reboot on completion.

    2. When the installation is complete, you will be shown a final screen. Click Finish.

    3. Then, restart your computer. Click “Restart Now” to restart your computer so that the changes made by the Active Directory Domain Services Installation wizard will take effect.

    4. After restarting, Windows should show the Server Manager. The Server Manager screen should show that Active Directory and DNS Server roles are installed. Also the process of installing Active Directory will add the features “Group Policy Management” and “Remote Server Administration Tools.”