Installing Active Directory on Windows Server 8

September 16, 2011 by 4 Comments

Is dcpromo gone for good?  Well it is in the latest Windows Developer Edition of Microsoft Server 8.  The team at AdminNation.com decided to try and install Active Directory.  We noticed right away Dcpromo no longer worked.  Instead you are greeted with a message stating:

The Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard is relocated in Server manager. 

Excuse me?  Umm, OK.  I guess I can install AD with Server Manager.

I mean who doesn’t love using Server Manger?  It’s great!  Especially if you enjoy a screen popping up every time you log into a server, not having every function you need available, and the fact Microsoft is choosing how you are going to administer your server.  All we can say is, thank goodness for PowerShell.    Here are some screens shots of us installing Active Directory on Windows Server 8.

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  • http://jeftek.com Jef

    Rod,

    It looks like AD in Windows 8 are just hold overs from 2008 R2. ADFS 2.0 is still the same and refers to 2008-R2 still.

    I originally installed it in 2008-R2 Forest mode hoping to see any changes when I Update the functional level to WIN8, but as you saw, it’s not supported in ADUC or the PowerShell cmdlets.

    So we’ll have to wait some more for the cool infrastructure components I think :)

    The AD admin services console does have the updated Metro UI styling, but I think that is inherited from the OS anyway and not specific to the tool.

    I know it’s early, but I can stand the “Metro Launcher” on Server….

  • Mdilyas86

    Excuses, please could you let me know windows 8 is an new Server operating system from microsoft or it is an higher version of windows 7. where can i get this windows server 8.

    Regards,
    Mohammed Ilyas

  • http://www.desiedition.com/ Raz

    Rationally this one is going to monopoly, but glad that we still got powershell, without that it will be very difficult to manage things..