ESX Virtualization

VMware ESXi, vSphere, VMware Backup, Hyper-V... how-to, videos....

Nakivo Backup and Replication - #1 Backup solution for Virtual, physical, cloud, NAS and SaaS

Menu
  • Certification
      • VCP-DCV vSphere 8
          • vcp2024-125.
        • Close
    • Close
  • VMware
    • Configuration Maximums
    • vSphere
      • VVF 9 and VCF 9
      • vSphere 8.0
      • vSphere 7.0
      • vSphere 6.7
      • vSphere 6.5
      • vSphere 6.0
      • Close
    • VMworld
      • VMware EXPLORE 2024
      • VMware EXPLORE 2023
      • VMware EXPLORE 2022
      • VMworld 2019
      • VMworld 2018
      • VMworld 2017
      • VMworld 2016
      • VMworld 2015
      • VMworld 2014
      • VMworld 2013
      • VMworld 2012
      • VMworld 2011
      • Close
    • Close
  • Microsoft
    • Windows Server 2012
    • Windows Server 2016
    • Windows Server 2019
    • Windows Server 2025
    • Close
  • Categories
    • Tips – VMware, Microsoft and General IT tips and definitions, What is this?, How this works?
    • Server Virtualization – VMware ESXi, ESXi Free Hypervizor, VMware vSphere Server Virtualization, VMware Cloud and Datacenter Virtualization
    • Backup – Virtualization Backup Solutions, VMware vSphere Backup and ESXi backup solutions.
    • Desktop Virtualization – Desktop Virtualization, VMware Workstation, VMware Fusion, VMware Horizon View, tips and tutorials
    • How To – ESXi Tutorials, IT and virtualization tutorials, VMware ESXi 4.x, ESXi 5.x and VMware vSphere. VMware Workstation and other IT tutorials.
    • Free – Free virtualization utilities, ESXi Free, Monitoring and free backup utilities for ESXi and Hyper-V. Free IT tools.
    • Videos – VMware Virtualization Videos, VMware ESXi Videos, ESXi 4.x, ESXi 5.x tips and videos.
    • Home Lab
    • Reviews – Virtualization Software and reviews, Disaster and backup recovery software reviews. Virtual infrastructure monitoring software review.
    • Close
  • Partners
    • NAKIVO
    • StarWind
    • Zerto
    • Xorux
    • Close
  • This Web
    • News
    • ESXi Lab
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Archives
    • Disclaimer
    • PDFs and Books
    • Close
  • Free
  • Privacy policy

Windows Server 2016 Active Directory Installation Guide

By Vladan SEGET | Last Updated: November 9, 2022

Shares

This is step by step article (with video) which shows the installation of a Windows Server 2016 Active Directory on Windows Server 2016 (the latest TP5) by using VMware ESXi (I'm running the whole vSphere 6 in my lab). Many folks learning towards Microsoft and VMware certifications usually use a free version of ESXi which is very easy to install too. And usually, the first step when building home-lab, is to install and deploy domain controller (DC). As the upcoming Windows Server 2016 (currently in TP5) should not have major changes, we'll show you what it will look like the whole install/config process, with some tips at the and as well… If you're already know your way around, in this case may not need this guide – Windows Server 2016 Active Directory Installation Guide.

The video shows the whole process but misses some parts:

Step 0: Download the Windows Server 2016 iso and upload it to a datastore accessible by the host. Step which might be obvious, but again, this post targets young admins which learns the ins-and-outs of the IT, from scratch. If you're planing to install Free VMware ESXi, you might also check those posts which further details the steps. Note that there is also my vSphere 6 page where you can find tons of how-to articles and configuration guides.

Then it's pretty standard procedure:

Step 1: Create a new VM > Select Windows Server 2016 x64 as OS type > Select amount of RAM > datastore as destination > Network > NIC type (VMXNET3) > Reboot

Step 2: Assign a local admin password. I precise local admin password for folks that never installed AD, as the local admin will become a domain admin when promoting the standalone server as domain controller. And the other way around as well. When de-commissioning a DC, the domain admin becomes a

bellow this is a local admin login configuration screen…

Windows Server 2016 Domain Admin Login

Step 3: Install VMware Tools and reboot again. Assign a Static IP address to the system and Rename the System (Right click on Start button > System > Advanced System Settings > Computer Name TAB). Then Start the Add Server Roles wizard via the Server Manager.

Choose Active Directory Domain Services.

Windows Server 2016 Active Directory Installation

This adds the different sub services, like DNS and also management tools….

Wait till the wizard finishes and then in the task details click the link Promote this server to a domain controller. 

The screen looks like this…

Windows Server 2016 Active Directory Install config

As we only create new domain (not joining existing domain/forest) we need to choose the third option – Add a New forest. So far so good I hope. If not watch the video for all details….

Windows Server 2016 Active Directory Install config

Step 4: One more important step is to create a Directory Services Restore Mode Password (DSRM). This password is used for example when restoring AD, and when you boot into safe mode, you're prompted for this password.

Windows Server 2016 Active Directory Install config

Then just follow the assistant, click on the Next button few times until you'll see a prompt saying that the server will be rebooting and you'll be signed off.  After the reboot, you'll see another login screen like this – A domain administrator login screen… The login can be in 2 different formats:

  • YOUR_DOMAIN\Administrator
  • Administrator@YOUR_DOMAIN

Where YOUR_DOMAIN can be for example lab2016.local in our case….

Windows Server 2016 Domain Admin Login

There is more steps, but I think it's best to watch the video as the number of screenshots would just be enormous. In short what's need to be done?

  • Create reverse zone and pointer
  • Re-assign DNS in the IP properties (got lost during the DC isntall/configure process)
  • Check errors

Then you can open Users and computers Active directory console to check that the whole AD really works.

Here is the whole video. Some parts of the video had been cut out (long reboots, and long waiting screens). Even though, this is a step-by-step video whcih you can follow if necessary to sucessfully install Widows Server 2016, Add Domain services role including all the configurations steps.

There will be a follow-up video which shows the tasks that has to be done after installation. We'll see some optimization of the VM from memory and storage perspective.

Here is the whole video. Enjoy… -:)

You may want to check other posts about Windows Server 2016:

  • What is the difference between Standard and Datacenter Editions ($$$$)
  • Windows Server 2016 TP5 has been released – [ details ]
  • Windows Server 2016 Free E-book [Technet]
  • Windows Server ADMX files download – Group Policy tools use Administrative template files to populate policy settings in the user interface. This allows administrators to manage registry-based policy settings. This download includes the Administrative templates released for Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 5. Download here >>
  • Evaluation ISO of System Center 2016 TP5 is at this page
  • Evaluation ISO o Technical Preview 5 (TP5) of Windows Server 2016 can be downloaded here
  • Hyper-converged solution using Storage Spaces Direct in Windows Server 2016 – here
Shares
3.3/5 - (6 votes)

| Filed Under: Server Virtualization, Windows Server 2016 Tagged With: Windows Server 2016 Active Directory Installation Guide

About Vladan SEGET

This website is maintained by Vladan SEGET. Vladan is as an Independent consultant, professional blogger, vExpert x16, Veeam Vanguard x9, VCAP-DCA/DCD, ESX Virtualization site has started as a simple bookmarking site, but quickly found a large following of readers and subscribers.

Connect on: Facebook. Feel free to network via Twitter @vladan.

Private Sponsors

Featured

  • Thinking about HCI? G2, an independent tech solutions peer review platform, has published its Winter 2023 Reports on Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) Solutions.
  • Zerto: One Platform for Disaster Recovery, Backup & Cloud Mobility: Try FREE Hands-On Labs Today!
Click to Become a Sponsor

Most Recent

  • Dream Lab with PCIe Gen 5.0 M.2 NVMe Storage
  • Backup solution that supports 15+ Hypervisors – Vinchin Backup and Recovery
  • Why NordVPN is Your Must-Have for Business Security and Personal Freedom
  • Agentless Backup Solutions for XCP-ng Hypervisor: External Vendor Options
  • Vinchin Earns Acclaimed Recognition in Gartner Peer Insights 2025 Report
  • VMware vSphere 9 Standard and Enterprise Plus – Not Anymore?
  • Free Virtual Backup Appliance from StarWind – With Community Support (example configuration for ESXi and Veeam Backup)
  • VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF 9) and VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF 9) Has been Released
  • Veeam Backup & Replication 12.3.2 – patch critical vulnerabilities for your dataprotection environments
  • Veeam confirming vSphere 9.0 and ESXi 9 upcoming support

Get new posts by email:

 

 

 

 

Support us on Ko-Fi

 

 

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Free Trials

  • DC Scope for VMware vSphere – optimization, capacity planning, and cost management. Download FREE Trial Here.
  • Augmented Inline Deduplication, Altaro VM Backup v9 For #VMware and #Hyper-V – Grab your copy now download TRIAL.

VMware Engineer Jobs

VMware Engineer Jobs

YouTube

…

Find us on Facebook

ESX Virtualization

…

Copyright © 2025 ·Dynamik-Gen · Genesis Framework · Hosted with HostColor.com