What are the minimum requirements for a domain controller server?
According to TechNet minimum requirements for Windows Server installation is.
Windows Server Installation Requirements
Processor
Processor performance depends not only on the clock frequency of the processor, but also on the number of processor cores and the size of the processor cache. The following are the processor requirements for this product:
Minimum:
- 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor
- Compatible with x64 instruction set
- Supports NX and DEP
- Supports CMPXCHG16b, LAHF/SAHF, and PrefetchW
- Supports Second Level Address Translation (EPT or NPT)
RAM
The following are the estimated RAM requirements for this product:
Minimum:
- 512 MB (2 GB for Server with Desktop Experience installation option)
- ECC (Error Correcting Code) type or similar technology
Important: If you create a virtual machine with the minimum supported hardware parameters (1 processor core and 512 MB RAM) and then attempt to install this release on the virtual machine, Setup will fail.
To avoid this, do one of the following:
- Allocate more than 800 MB RAM to the virtual machine you intend to install this release on. Once Setup has completed, you can change the allocation to as little as 512 MB RAM, depending on the actual server configuration.
- Interrupt the boot process of this release on the virtual machine with SHIFT+F10. In the command prompt that opens, use Diskpart.exe to create and format an installation partition. Loop Wpeutil createpagefile /path=C:\pf.sys (assuming the installation partition you created was C:). Close the command prompt and proceed with Setup.
Storage controller and disk space requirements
Computers that run Windows Server must include a storage adapter that is compliant with the PCI Express architecture specification. Persistent storage devices on servers classified as hard disk drives must not be PATA. Windows Server does not allow ATA/PATA/IDE/EIDE for boot, page, or data drives.
The following are the estimated minimum disk space requirements for the system partition.
Minimum: 32 GB
OPMERKING: Be aware that 32 GB should be considered an absolute minimum value for successful installation. This minimum should allow you to install Windows Server in Server Core mode, with the Web Services (IIS) server role. A server in Server Core mode is about 4 GB smaller than the same server in Server with a GUI mode.
The system partition will need extra space for any of the following circumstances:
- If you install the system over a network.
- Computers with more than 16 GB of RAM will require more disk space for paging, hibernation, and dump files.
Network adapter requirements
Network adapters used with this release should include these features:
Minimum:
- An Ethernet adapter capable of at least gigabit throughput
- Compliant with the PCI Express architecture specification.
- Supports Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE).
A network adapter that supports network debugging (KDNet) is useful, but not a minimum requirement.
Other requirements
Computers running this release also must have the following:
- DVD drive (if you intend to install the operating system from DVD media)
The following items are not strictly required, but are necessary for certain features:
- UEFI 2.3.1c-based system and firmware that supports secure boot
- Trusted Platform Module
- Graphics device and monitor capable of Super VGA (1024 x 768) or higher-resolution
- Keyboard and Microsoft® mouse (or other compatible pointing device)
- Internet access (fees may apply)
Domain Controler installation requirements
Processor
2.7 - 3.2 GHz 64-bit processor with 2 of 4 cores.
RAM
- 2 Gb for Core installation;
- 4 Gb for Server with Desktop Experience installation option.
Storage controller and disk space requirements
60 GB SSD or HDD in RAID for Desktop Experience installation option (with time and Server updates it increase the size of Windows folder).
OPMERKING: Better use 2 or more disk in RAID 1 of 10 to increase data protection and system stability.
Network adapter requirements
1 GbE Ethernet adapter, because DC always send some traffic (DNS, Auth, tickets, and more)
OPMERKING: A network adapter that supports network debugging (KDNet) is useful, but not a requirement.
Computers running this release also must have the following:
- DVD drive (if you intend to install the operating system from DVD media)
- If you use USB Flash install source, then you don’t need DVD drive.
OPMERKING: After Windows Server install finished – remove DVD drive from PC to decrease power consumption.
OPMERKING: Domain Controller (DC) doesn’t need a powerful graphic card.
Also, you will need:
- Keyboard and mouse (disconnect if don’t use them for power consumption decreasing);
- Graphics device and monitor capable of Super VGA (1024 x 768) or higher-resolution;
- UEFI 2.3.1c-based system and firmware that supports secure boot;
- Trusted Platform Module.
OPMERKING: Also as Best Practices, you must have TWO Domain Controllers (one of them can be Virtual Machine).
P. S. In summary, there can be better choices, based on your budget.
