Before you install Active Directory, you must ensure that your server and network both meet certain requirements.
The following list identifies the requirements for Active Directory installation:
| Note The Active Directory Installation wizard offers the option to install the DNS Server service when you install Active Directory. |
In addition, you must obtain the necessary network credentials for creating a domain if you are creating a domain or a domain controller in an existing Windows 2000 network. These credentials are the logon name of a user account, the account password, and the domain name. The user account must have sufficient administrative privileges to create a domain controller.
To implement Active Directory effectively, you need a plan that defines the network structure that you will create with Active Directory. Typically, a network architect will develop the implementation plan. The implementation plan should provide you with the information that you need to create the Active Directory forest, including DNS domain names and network basic input/output system (NetBIOS) names.
| Note For more information on planning Active Directory, see course 1561A, Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure. |
When you install Active Directory on a computer running Windows 2000 Server, you specify where that computer will be a domain controller. The Active Directory Installation wizard options are shown in the following illustration:
You select from these options for each domain controller that you create. After you make your selection, the Active Directory Installation wizard directs you to specify required information for the new domain controller. The information that you must provide when you install Active Directory varies according to the options that you select.