Been working on SharePoint (not extensively) for some times now, and it’s kind of interesting and frustrating when come to setting things up properly, and I finally have chance to trial out the latest and greatest of Windows Server and SharePoint.

Prerequisites**

  • Windows Server 2012
  • SQL Server 2012
  • SharePoint Server 2013 Preview

Install Windows Server 2012

This one would be the simplest of them all, boot the installer and install like Windows 7 or 8.

Configuring Windows Server 2012 for Active Directory

After boot up into the newly installed Windows Server, first thing to do is change the server name.

Press Win key to go to start page, right click on Computer and click Properties on menu bar on below.

Windows Server 2012 Start Page
Windows Server 2012 Start Page

And change the computer name

Changing computer name
Changing computer name

Click OK after done changing the name, restart the apply changes.

Head to the Server Manager and click Add roles and features

Add roles and features
Add roles and features

On the Add roles and features wizard, click next all the way until the server roles step.

Add roles and features wizard
Add roles and features wizard

Check the Active Directory Domain Services, and click Add features on the Add Roles and Features Wizard dialog that pops up as soon as you check the box

Install Active Directory Domain Services
Install Active Directory Domain Services

Then install the .NET framework, both 3.5 and 4.5, and check the ASP.NET 4.5. SQL Server need the 3.5 framework.

Features
Features

Click Next.

Alternate source path
Alternate source path

So if this message appears, we need to specify the source where we can get the .NET framework. Click on the Specify an alternative source path.

Alternate source path
Alternate source path

On the dialog, point the path to the Windows Server 2012 installer disc, Sources\SxS folder.

After that click OK and click Install. After installation completed, close the wizard, and back to Server Manager.

Click on the flag, and click the Promote this server to a domain controller.

Promoting to domain controller
Promoting to domain controller

On the Active Directory Domain Services Configuration Wizard, select Add a new forest, key in the domain name (something.com) and click Next.

Adding new forest, run Forest, run!
Adding new forest, run Forest, run!

On the Domain Controller Options, key in the recovery mode password and click Next.

Domain Controller options
Domain Controller options

Then you will be presented some warning (mileage may vary), just click Next.

DNS options
DNS options

Click Next all the way till the end and click Install. You may get errors on Prerequisites Check step if network is not properly configured, like the screenshot above, I disabled the network adapter on my VM and it failed.

Installing
Installing

After done the machine will reboot.

Note: This post is for research purpose, it does not meant to be use on production.