AWS Microsoft Active Directory - how to access the domain controllers to define groups and users

Question

Hi there, just created my AWS Microsoft Active Directory (Standard edition). I know this has created 2 virtual MS Server 2012 in different availability zones, but I can see no way to connect to either to start setting up? I remember reading in the documentation that 2 user connections were allowed to each server for this reason

Jeremy_G · Accepted Answer

Hello, here are the instructions for how to manage users and groups within AD Managed Microsoft AD.  https://docs.aws.amazon.com/directoryservice/latest/admin-guide/ms_ad_manage_users_groups.html

You will need to have a Windows EC2 instance joined to the domain (https://docs.aws.amazon.com/directoryservice/latest/admin-guide/microsoftadbasestep3.html).  Then you will need to install the Active Directory administration tools (https://docs.aws.amazon.com/directoryservice/latest/admin-guide/ms_ad_install_ad_tools.html) and finally you will be able to manage your Active Directory Objects.

msutherland25 · Answer

Thank you, I was really hoping to avoid needing this - I already have an EC2 Windows server attached to another domain. Am I right in thinking that the two Windows 2012 VMs have no graphical interface then? I can't see what security group these DCs have been put into so assume that any other Windows VM that I create in the VPC will be able to join the new domain? Also guessing that I must set the DNS servers on the Windows VM to point to the DCs before trying to join?

AWS Microsoft Active Directory - how to access the domain controllers to define groups and users

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