Installing and promoting a Non-GUI server

Question

Hello,

I need to install a Windows Server 2016 Non-GUI server and promoting it to a Domain controller. But I don't know how to install the role and then promote it. I have experience on using GUI.

Answer 1

Hi R1t4uk,

Thank you for posting in the Microsoft Community Forums.

You will need to follow the steps below. Please note that since you wish to install the non-GUI version, you will be relying mostly on command line or keyboard operations during the installation process.

Installing Windows Server 2016 Non-GUI Server

Prepare the installation media:

Make sure you have the Windows Server 2016 installation CD or a bootable USB drive.

If you are making the USB drive from an ISO file, you can use a tool such as Rufus.

Start the server and go to the installation screen:

Insert the installation media into the server and reboot the server.

Set up boot from CD-ROM or USB drive in the BIOS/UEFI setup.

Follow the on-screen instructions to enter the Windows Server installation screen.

Install Windows Server 2016:

On the installation screen, select the appropriate language and keyboard layout.

Click Next and accept the license agreement.

Select the Customize: Install Windows only (Advanced) option, as you want to install a non-GUI version.

Select the disk partition to be used for installing Windows and click Next to begin the installation.

During the installation, you will be asked to enter your product key (if you have one) or choose to enter it later.

Once the installation is complete, you will be asked to set the administrator password and some other basic configurations.

Upgrading to a Domain Controller

Once Windows Server 2016 is installed and the administrator password is set, you can start upgrading it to a domain controller. Here are the steps to do so through Server Manager:

Open Server Manager:

Log on to the server with administrator privileges.

Open Server Manager.

Add roles and features:

In Server Manager, select Add Roles and Features under the Administration menu.

Click Next to start the Add Roles and Features Wizard.

Select the type of installation:

Select Role-Based or Feature-Based Installation.

Click Next.

Select the target server:

Select your local server from the server pool.

Click Next.

Select the server role:

In the Server Role list, select Active Directory Domain Services and DNS Server (because domain controllers usually require DNS service).

Note: Since you are installing a non-GUI version, these selections will be made through checkboxes and lists.

Click Next to continue.

Add features:

Add any additional features as needed, but often these may not be required for domain controllers.

Click Next.

Confirm installation choices:

Review your installation choices to ensure that Active Directory Domain Services and DNS Servers are selected.

Click Install to begin the installation process.

Configure the domain services:

After the installation is complete, you may be prompted to configure the domain services.

Follow the instructions of the Configure Active Directory Domain Services wizard, including setting the domain name, domain functional level, and domain administrator password.

Verify and test:

After completing the installation of the domain controller, verify that its features work properly.

Test user authentication, logon, and other domain-related operations to ensure that everything works as expected.

Best regards

Neuvi