BLOG TIPS: How to configure and maintain Child Domain Controller step by step?

You can configure Child Domain Controller, if you already have one main domain controller. Using child domain controller, you can reduce the traffic of the network.

Perform the following steps to add child domain controller to your windows 2003 server domain controller.

There are some pre-requirement for install Child Domain Controller:

Operating system must be MS-Server 2003.
Domain Controller must be configured
DNS and TCP/IP settings must be configured.
Computer must be connected properly (physically and logically) to other computers.

Server end Configurations for Child Domain Controller

First click on start button to open Run option and type here "dcpromo" then press Ok button.

Now windows active directory welcome page will appear, click Next button.
Again click Next button on "Operating System Compatibility" (here you can read some requirement for domain client).

For new domain, select the option "Domain Controller for a New Domain" and click Next button.
Now select the option "Child Domain in an Existing Domain Tree" and click Next button.

Now give the Username, Password and Domain name of the Domain Controller System and click Next.

Now give the domain name as champion.com and child domain name (marketing) and click Next.
On the next "Database and Log Folders" page, you can change the location of active directory database folder and Log folder also. For best performance, store these folders on separate partition or hard disks. Click Next for default setting.

Now wizard will show you the path of "Shared system Volume folder location", you should not change its default path. Click Next for default setting.

On the page "Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator Password" and give "Restore Mode Password", if you want otherwise leave this empty and click Next.