Overview
In Windows Server 2012, dcpromo has been deprecated.

Using Server Manager (UI):
In order to make the windows server 2012 domain controller we will install ADDS (Active Directory Domain Services) role from the server manager on Windows Server 2012.
First we will change the server name let say DC01 and the IP address 10.10.21.1 (try to avoid using default 192.168.0.1)

INSTALLING AD DS ROLE

“Before You Begin” screen provides you basic information such as configuring strong passwords, IP addresses and Windows updates.

On Installation Type page, select the first option “Role-based or Feature-based Installation“.
Scenario-based Installation option applied only to Remote Desktop services.

On the “Server Selection” Page, select a server from the server pool and click next.

To install AD DS, select Active Directory Domain Services in turn it will pop-up to add other AD DS related tools. Click on Add Features.

After clicking “Add Features” above, you will be able to click “Next >” as shown in the screen below.

On the “Select Features” Page, Group Policy Management feature automatically installed during the promotion. Click next.

On the “Active Directory Domain Services” page, it gives basic information about AD DS. Click Next.

On the “Confirmation” Page, You need to confirm this to continue with this configuration. It will provide you an option to export the configuration settings and also if you want the server to be restarted automatically as required.

After clicking “Install” the selected role binaries will be installed on the server.
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After “Active Directory Domain Services” role binaries have been installed and now it is time to promote the server to a Domain Controller.

PROMOTING WINDOWS 2012 SERVER TO DOMAIN CONTROLLER
To create a new AD forest called “ArabITPro.local”, select add a new forest.

Type the name MmcServer.local

Specify the FFL, DFL, whether or not it should be a DNS Server and also the DSRM administrator password. As you can see, it has selected the GC option by default and you cannot deselect it. The reason for this is that is the very first DC of the AD forest and at least one needs to be a GC.

DNS delegation warning.

Checks the NetBIOS name already assigned.

Specify the location of the AD related folders and then click next.

Summary Of All Installation Options/Selections.

Click View script for single command line PowerShell script for dcpromo.

Before the actual install of AD, all prerequisites are checked. If All prerequisite checks are passed successfully then clickInstall.

When you click Install, DNS and the GPMC are installed automatically.

After the promotion of the server to a DC finished server restart automatically.
Once the server is booted and you logon to it, click on Server Manager | Tools , will notice that following have been installed : * Active Directory Administrative Center * Active Directory Domains and Trusts * Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell * Active Directory Sites and Services * Active Directory Users and Computers * ADSI Edit * DNS * Group Policy Management

Creating Group

Step 1
First of all you should create a domain as I explained in my previous article for creating the new group. Now on your Desktop an icon will be created.

Double-click the icon to open the Active Directory Users and Computers.

Step 2
If you expand your domain then you will see that it contains many things in it, like Users, Computers, Bulletins etc. that will show you previously created Users, Groups etc.

Now right-click on your domain (Virtual.net) to add a new group.

Step 3
Now you must provide a few more items of information to create a new group like Group Name, Group Scope, Group Type etc. and then click the "Ok" Button.

Now your domain will show your newly created group.

Step 4
You can make changes in this group. For that double-click on this group. On the first page will be your group name that you can change. You can add an E-Mail Address or some type of description about the group on this page.

The next page is for the members in which you can add new members to this group. You can add the user either by entering the user's name if you remember the name or you can do an Advanced Search to find the user and then add it.

Step 5
The next page is named "Member of" from which you can make this group a member of any other group. Here you also can either directly enter the name of the group or you can search the names using the Advanced Search option.

The last page is for the user that will manage this group. You can provide the name and information of the person who will be responsible for managing this group.

Create a user

Step 1
First of all logon to your Windows Server 2012. After login, open your Start Menu and click on "Administrative Tools".

Step 2
Now a list of items will appear in front of you from which you must select "Active Directory Users and Computers".

Step 3
Now you will see that your domain exists, in this Tool and many options are available beneath it like Account, Bulletin, Computers, Users etc.

Step 4
Right-click on your domain and go to "New". In New go to the "Users" to add a "New User".

Step 5
Now a form will be available in front of you that you must fill in to provide all necessary details of a new user. After that click on the "Next" button.

Step 6
On clicking the Next button a New Form will be opened in which you need to provide the Password for the new user. Your server will ask you to re-enter the password so that if by mistake you provide the wrong password then you can correct it.
There are four other options also from which you can select whether you want to provide permission to the user to change the password on its next logon or you want to restrict him so that he can't change the password. You can also check the "Password never expires" option or you can also disable the account of the user.

Step 7
Now all the provided values will be shown to you and you will be asked to click on the "Finish" button to finish the work or you can go back to make any changes as required.

Now your new user has been created.