Windows Server 2012 Practice Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

To install a Windows Server 2012 domain controller, it is essential to install the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) role. This role is specifically designed to provide the necessary framework for the server to function as a domain controller within a Windows Server environment. Active Directory is responsible for handling identity and access management for resources within a network. By installing the AD DS role, you enable the server to create and manage an Active Directory domain, which facilitates centralized management of users, computers, and other resources.

While other components like Windows Server Update Services and Server Message Block may be useful in certain contexts, they do not directly contribute to the server's ability to serve as a domain controller. Group Policy Management Console is also valuable for managing policies within a domain but does not replace the need to install the core functionality provided by the Active Directory Domain Services role. Thus, AD DS is a foundational requirement for establishing a domain controller.