The second part ‘AD DS Installation’ contains the step-by-step instructions is how you can install the Active Directory Domain Services role on the Windows Server 2012.
The third and final part ‘The Configuration’ contains the step-by-step process as how you can configure the Windows Server 2012 to work as a full-fledged Active Directory domain controller.
In order to promote and install you copy of Windows Server 2012 to an Active Directory domain controller, you are required to install the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) on the operating system.
Before you start the installation process of the Active Directory Domain Services on the Windows Server 2012, you must ensure that the network operating system is properly set up and prepared accordingly. You must also ensure that all the prerequisites that are required to be present and configured on the Windows Server 2012 are in proper place.
Some most important prerequisites are:
Static IP Address: The computer must have a static IP address so that it becomes easier for the client computers and users to locate the domain controller and the services that is provides, and they can establish a strong and reliable communication channel with it as well.
Sufficient Disk Space: The hard disk drive, especially C:\, must have sufficient amount of disk space available in order to accommodate all the services and roles that you plan to install on the Windows Server 2012 domain controller in future.
Local Area Network (LAN) Connection: The computer must be well connected to a local area network (probably a LAN switch). Apart from physical connection, Windows Server 2012 must also be accessible by the computers that you plan to use as the clients to the domain controller. (You can use PING command to check the connectivity between the client computers and Windows Server 2012 network operating systems.).
Appropriate File System: In order to install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) on Windows Server 2012, the system drive (C:\) must be formatted with NTFS file system. If the file system of the system drive is not NTFS, Windows Server 2012 would fail to install AD DS and you will not be able to promote the operating system to an Active Directory domain controller.

Once all the above requisites are in place, Windows Server 2012 is now ready to install the Active Directory Domain Services role.
Before you begin installing the AD DS role, it is always a good idea to properly check the network cables, and restart Windows Server 2012 to ensure that there are no issues or pending reboots that may hamper the overall Active Directory Domain Services installation process.
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