• Create a virtual machine instance under Compute Engine for Windows Server.

• Open the remote desktop for Windows using RDP

• Goto Start - Server Manager - Roles - Add Roles And Feature

• Then it opens the add roles and features wizard. Click on next to proceed.

• Then in next window keep the default and click next

• Since it’s going to be local server, in next window keep the default selection.

• In next window from the roles put tick box for active directory domain services. Then it will prompt to show you what are the associated features for the role. Click on add features to add those. Then click next to continue.

• The features page, keep it default and click on next to proceed

• In next windows it gives brief description about AD DS service. Click next to proceed.

• Then it will give the confirmation about install, click on install to start the role installation process.

• Once done, it will start the installation process

• After you install Active directory, you need to promote the instance to Domain Controller.

• Before starting to promote the instance to the Domain controller set a password for a  Administrator by going to - Server Manager - Tools - Computer Management - Local Users and Groups - Users - Administrator - Set Password

• After changing the Administrative password, click on option promote this server to a domain controller.

• Then it will open the active directory configuration wizard. Click on add a new forest. But if you adding this to existing domain you can choose relevant option. Type FQDN for the domain. Then click next.

• In next page you can select the domain and forest functional levels. I am going to set it up with latest. Then type a password for DSRM. Then click next

• For the DNS options, this going to be the first DNS server in new forest. So no need any modifications. Click next to proceed.

• For the NETBIOS name keep the default and click next

• Next page is to define the NTDS, SYSVOL and LOG file folders. You can keep default or define different path for these. In demo I will be keeping default. Once changes are done, click next to continue

• Next page will give option to review the configuration changes. If everything okay you can click next to proceed or otherwise can go back and change the settings.

• In next windows it will do prerequisite check. If it’s all good it will enable option to install. Click on install to begin installation process.

• Then it will start the installation process.

• After the installation of Active Directory the Windows server will shut down Automatically.

Connecting Local Computer With Remote Computer Using Active Directory

• Goto Start - Type DNS - the DNS Manager gets opened. Expand DNS - Instance Name(ex. ABCt) - Forward Lookup Zones - rebeladmin.net

• Edit Host(A) - abc - right click - properties (provide the external ip of the instance) and save

• After editing it will look like this

• Now in Local Computer Add ip (external) address of instance in IPv4 of local machine (the machine that needs to be connected to the server machine using active directory)

• Open Networking and Sharing Center

• Right click the network connected with the computer.

• Goto Properties -> Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)

• Select - Use the following DNS server addresses.

• Enter external ip address of instance(server machine) in Preferred DNS server

• Enter Google DNS address i.e. 8.8.8.8 in Alternate DNS server

• Click on OK

• Goto Computer Properties - Change settings - Select Domain and type your Domain (ex- rebeladmin.net)

• Click OK. Now it will ask for a username and password. Enter the user created in server machine belonging to Domain Admin group.

• After entering username and password, it will prompt to restart the machine. After restarting, switch user, give username, password and login.