Our task today was to set-up Active Directory on Windows Server 2008.

To begin we searched for 'best practices' / documentation that provided step-by-step instructions and found helpful information on the following sites:

Documentation: Joining Windows 7 to Domain

Join domain on windows 7 [Video file]. (2011, June 17). Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/windowsserver2008guide/active-directory-domain-services/video-tutuorial-join-domain-on-windows-7-client

Joining windows 7 to a domain. (2009). Retrieved July 11, 2011, from http://www.elmajdal.net/win7/Joining_Windows_7_To_Domain.aspx

Step by step guide for windows server 2008 domain controller and DNS server setup. (2008). Retrieved July 11, 2011, from http://www.windowsreference.com/windows-server-2008/step-by-step-guide-for-windows-server-2008-domain-controller-and-dns-server-setup/

Windows 7: join active directory domain [Video file]. (2009, August 3). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X1wHX5Ra08

Resources for Windows Server 2008:

Amaya, N. (n.d.) How to install active directory on windows server 2008 [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://forevergeeks.com/how-to-install-active-directory-on-windows-2008

Microsoft. (2010). Installing an additional domain controller by using the graphical user interface (GUI). Retrieved July 11, 2011, from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753720(WS.10).aspx

Petri, D. (2009, January 8). Installing active directory on windows server 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2011, from http://www.petri.co.il/installing-active-directory-windows-server-2008.htm

During the setup process we documented our steps using screen capture. These steps can be viewed on youtube. I believe that this will be very useful when completing assignment 3.

DAILY CHALLENGES

Unfortunately, today we had some difficulty with our DNS settings that required some additional problem solving. We finally determined that we needed to point our DNS to the main server.

Another error we made today... we misnamed our server and advised Lyle to delete this from Active Directory. On our end we were unable to demote the server from being a domain controller and we were also unable to rename our server. As a result, we had to reinstall Windows server 2008, DNS services, DHCP server and File sharing.

The LESSON of the DAY.... make sure you have everything correct before you set-up Active Directory (darn typos!)