<div>
I realize that points have been awarded and that's ok, but AFAIK Windows Server 2012 Foundation is only available as an OEM, pre-installed product. &nbsp;And it's required during setup to install it as a domain controller and that it must be the root DC in the domain. &nbsp; Any other config would be a violation of licensing and likely to have issues.
</div>


I realize that points have been awarded and that's ok, but AFAIK Windows Server 2012 Foundation is only available as an OEM, pre-installed product.  And it's required during setup to install it as a domain controller and that it must be the root DC in the domain.   Any other config would be a violation of licensing and likely to have issues.

<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
Can a standalone single server running Windows Server 2012 Foundation become a domain controller?<br />
<br />
I set up the server as a new forest and I received this error message:<br />
<br />
&quot;The server did not finish checking the license compliance. <br />
&nbsp;If the server is joined to a domain, make sure that the server <br />
&nbsp;can connect to a domain controller. If the license compliant check<br />
&nbsp; cannot be completed, the server will automatically shut down in 9 days&quot;<br />
<br />
The language on Microsoft.com regarding this is very vague. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
MSFT says &quot;Must be the root domain controller in a domain that has no trusts at the root of the forest. This condition is temporarily allowed for migrations, but if persistent, the system will be forced to restart&quot;<br />
<br />
Ok, but does that mean I can make it forest root in its own domain of one server?<br />
<br />
Thanks!
</div>
</div>


Can a standalone single server running Windows Server 2012 Foundation become a domain controller?

I set up the server as a new forest and I received this error message:

"The server did not finish checking the license compliance. 
 If the server is joined to a domain, make sure that the server 
 can connect to a domain controller. If the license compliant check
  cannot be completed, the server will automatically shut down in 9 days"

The language on Microsoft.com regarding this is very vague.  

MSFT says "Must be the root domain controller in a domain that has no trusts at the root of the forest. This condition is temporarily allowed for migrations, but if persistent, the system will be forced to restart"

Ok, but does that mean I can make it forest root in its own domain of one server?

Thanks!

Windows Server 2012 Foundation Single Server Domain Controller

The Microsoft Server topic includes all of the legacy versions of the operating system, including the Windows NT 3.1, NT 3.5, NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 and Windows Home Server versions.

Microsoft Server OS

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchical, globally distributed system responsible for associating the name of a computer, service or other resource into an IP address for connecting to the Internet or a private network. Most prominently, it translates domain names to the numerical IP addresses needed for the purpose of computer services and devices worldwide.