Setup new AD Forest on Server 2012 Core

I’ve recently setup 5 or 6 different lab environments and one of those setups was all server 2012 core. To get started on the lab, I needed a DC (aside from the initial Hyper-V server). In a few quick steps, I’ll show you how to setup a new forest using Server 2012 core.

1. Login to and configure your server using  order neurontin sconfig

2. Type powershell to open a new PowerShell session

  • Import-Module ServerManager
  • Add-WindowsFeature AD-Domain-Services
  • Restart-Computer

3. After the server reboots, login and open a new PowerShell session

  • Import-Module ADDSDeployment
  • Install-ADDSForest -DomainName lab.local -DomainNetBiosName lab -DomainMode Win2012 -ForestMode Win2012 -InstallDNS

4. After the server reboots, login and open a new PowerShell session

  • Import-Module ActiveDirectory
  • Get-ADForest
  • Get-ADRootDSE

If everything went well, you should have a new AD forest setup.

PowerShell · Windows Server