Windows Server 2022 and 2019: Editions, Initial Setup, Active Directory and Key Roles

Windows Server is Microsoft's server OS for enterprise environments. While Windows 10/11 is for desktops, Windows Server manages networks, stores data and runs corporate applications.

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Windows Server vs Windows 10/11

	Windows 10/11	Windows Server
Purpose	Desktop	Server, network
Active Directory	❌	✅
Hyper-V	Limited	Full
RDP connections	1	Unlimited (with CALs)
Max RAM	2 TB	48 TB

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Windows Server 2022 Editions

• Standard — up to 2 Hyper-V VMs, all server roles, ~$1000
• Datacenter — unlimited VMs, Storage Spaces Direct, ~$6000
• Essentials — up to 25 users/50 devices, ~$500

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Initial Setup After Installation

# Rename computer
Rename-Computer -NewName "SRV-DC01" -Restart

# Set static IP
$adapter = Get-NetAdapter | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq "Up"} | Select-Object -First 1
New-NetIPAddress -InterfaceIndex $adapter.InterfaceIndex `
    -IPAddress "192.168.1.10" -PrefixLength 24 -DefaultGateway "192.168.1.1"
Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex $adapter.InterfaceIndex `
    -ServerAddresses "192.168.1.10","8.8.8.8"

# Sync time
w32tm /config /manualpeerlist:"time.windows.com" /syncfromflags:manual /reliable:YES /update

# Install updates
Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate -Force
Install-WindowsUpdate -AcceptAll -AutoReboot

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Active Directory Domain Services

# Install AD DS role
Install-WindowsFeature -Name AD-Domain-Services -IncludeManagementTools

# Configure first domain controller
Install-ADDSForest `
    -DomainName "company.local" `
    -DomainNetbiosName "COMPANY" `
    -InstallDns:$true `
    -SafeModeAdministratorPassword (Read-Host -AsSecureString "DSRM Password") `
    -Force:$true

# Add user
New-ADUser -Name "John Smith" -SamAccountName "j.smith" `
    -AccountPassword (Read-Host -AsSecureString "Password") -Enabled $true

# Add to group
Add-ADGroupMember -Identity "Domain Admins" -Members "j.smith"

# List all users
Get-ADUser -Filter * | Select-Object Name, SamAccountName, Enabled

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DNS Server

# List DNS zones
Get-DnsServerZone

# Add A record
Add-DnsServerResourceRecordA -ZoneName "company.local" `
    -Name "webserver" -IPv4Address "192.168.1.20"

# View all records
Get-DnsServerResourceRecord -ZoneName "company.local"

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DHCP Server

# Install DHCP
Install-WindowsFeature -Name DHCP -IncludeManagementTools
Add-DhcpServerInDC

# Create scope
Add-DhcpServerv4Scope -Name "Main Network" `
    -StartRange "192.168.1.100" -EndRange "192.168.1.200" `
    -SubnetMask "255.255.255.0" -State Active

# Set gateway and DNS for clients
Set-DhcpServerv4OptionValue -ScopeId "192.168.1.0" `
    -Router "192.168.1.1" -DnsServer "192.168.1.10"

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Hyper-V

# Install Hyper-V
Install-WindowsFeature -Name Hyper-V -IncludeManagementTools -Restart

# Create VM
New-VM -Name "Ubuntu-Server" -MemoryStartupBytes 2GB `
    -Generation 2 -NewVHDPath "D:\VMs\Ubuntu.vhdx" -NewVHDSizeBytes 60GB

Start-VM -Name "Ubuntu-Server"

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Summary

Task	Command
Install role	Install-WindowsFeature -Name [role]
Setup AD	Install-ADDSForest -DomainName domain.local
Add user	New-ADUser
Configure DNS	Add-DnsServerResourceRecordA
Configure DHCP	Add-DhcpServerv4Scope
Hyper-V	Install-WindowsFeature -Name Hyper-V