Active Directory must be installed on Windows 2000 servers that are to be Windows 2000 domain controllers. It can be installed on Windows 2000:

• Server
• Advanced Server
• Datacenter Server.

When Active Directory is installed on a computer, that computer is promoted by Active Directory to a domain controller. If the computer is the first domain controller, it creates an Active Directory database. If it is not the first, it gets a read and write copy of the AD database.

Requirements

• The computer must be Windows 2000 Server, Advanced Server or Datacenter Server.
• At least one volume on the computer must be formatted with NTFS.
• DNS must be active on the network prior to AD installation or be installed during AD installation. DNS must support SRV records and be dynamic.
• The computer must have IP protocol installed and have a static IP address.
• The Kerberos v5 authentication protocol must be installed.
• Time and zone information must be correct. Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) (RFC 1769) synchronizes time on network computers (nodes)