This article shows how to create an Active Directory forest covered in the article.   You could have another domain name, we used SteveSchofield.local as the test forest.  To start your forest, load your first VPC called DC1, login as Administrator and type DCPromo.  This will start the process.

The AD DS binaries will be installed.

 

Click "Use advanced mode installations"

Click Next

Depending on your environment,

Click Next

Select Create a new domain in a new forest.

Click Next

Type the name of your domain. 

Click Next

The NetBIOS name will popup, usually just take the default settings.

Click Next

Select Windows Server 2008 Forest functional level.

Click Next

Since this your first DC in the forest, make sure DNS Server is selected.  If you have an existing DNS infrastructure, you can unselect this option.

Click Next

Click Yes on this dialog box.

Click Next

 

Select where you want to have your Database, Log files and SYSVOL folders.

Click Next

Type your DS restore mode administrator password

Click Next

You can export the settings to be used on a Server Core machine later on or build unattended DC.   Personally, I like to manually do DC’s to ensure everything works.   

Click Next

I select Reboot on completion.

Click Next

After the box reboots, you’ll have a working AD forest.  You would follow the process on DC2, instead of creating a new forest, you’ll add an domain controller to an existing forest.    After both DC’s are up and going, you can adjust the ip settings to fit the architecture listed article.   Once the forest is up and going, you can create two additional member servers and add them to the forest.  You just need to make sure the primary DNS settings on member servers are pointed to one of the DCs.   This will help resolve the domain, in our example it’s SteveSchofield.local.