The tool used to install Active Directory or more specifically, upgrade a Windows 2000 Member Server to a Domain Controller is called DCPROMO. It is accessed by typeing "dcpromo" in the RUN command on the start menu.

     When installing AD, the default mode is "mixed-mode" as opposed to "native-mode". Mixed-mode is used for backward compatibility with Windows NT 4.0 domain controllers. When using Mixed-mode, some features of the Windows 2000 AD will not be available, such as: universal and nested groups.

     A mixed mode domain can be converted to a native mode domain. But a native mode domain cannot be converted to a mixed mode domain.

     To verify the proper installation of AD, use the Event Viewer. Go to the Directory Services section and look at the events. Events related to the AD and its installation are as follows:

• Event Type: Information
  
• Event Source: NTDS General
  
• Event Category: Service Control
  
• Event ID: 1000
  
• Date and Times Relations
  
• User: Everyone
  
• Computer: DC1
  
• Description: Microsoft Directory startup complete, version 5.00.2160.1
  

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Joining a Computer to an AD Domain

     In order to join a computer to an Active Directory Domain, you must have Active Directory installed and configured properly (as well as DNS services for the joining computer). To join a Windows 2000 computer to a domain:

1. On the Desktop of the computer that is to be joined to the new domain, right-click the My Computer icon (or My Network Places) and choose Properties. From the Advanced menu, choose Advanced Settings.
   
   
2. Select the Network Identification tab. You will see the current name of the local computer as well as information on the workgroup or domain to which it belongs.
   
   
3. Click Properties to change the settings for this computer.
   
   
4. Make any desired changes to the computer's name and choose Next.
   
   
5. In the "Member Of" section, choose the Domain option. Type the name of the Active Directory domain that this computer should join. Click OK.
   
   
6. When prompted for the username and password of an account that has permissions to join computers to the domain, enter the information for an administrator of the domain. click OK to commit the changes.
   
   
7. You will be notified that you must reboot the computer before the changes take place. Select YES when prompted to reboot.
   
   

     To test if the computer is successfully joined to the domain, you should be able to view Active Directory resources using the My Network Places icon. This test validates the proper functioning of the Active Directory on the client computer.