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I don't see any obstacle in this...you just promote to domain controller and you have a domain and a domain controller....the only thing that could cause issues is if you add the DHCP role and workstations start getting IP/DNS settings for it
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Are you doing this to test if the promo works? If so, you can convert it (and maybe some domain workstations) to virtual machines (vm) with <a href="http://www.vmware.com/products/converter.html" rel="ugc nofollow">vCenter Converter</a>, or <a href="https://hyperv.veeam.com/blog/how-to-convert-physical-machine-hyper-v-virtual-machine-disk2vhd/" rel="ugc">Disk2vhd</a>, or similar converter. Then, isolate (disconnect) them from the network as John mentioned. And boot the converted server and workstation vms.
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Is there a way to promote a server to a DC without it going into production? We want to be able to test it out first before we make it fully operational?
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This makes 0 sense to me. The DC will not begin to advertise services until the process is completed. The DCPROMO process is very sound and has been for almost 20 years now. All you need is a check list as you migrate through the various stages of the promote. If the promotion fails, then DC does not become a DC.
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how are you planning on testing it out.. do you have an independent &nbsp;lab that you can add it to and test?
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Is there a way to promote a server to a DC without it going into production? We want to be able to test it out first before we make it fully operational?
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Is there a way to promote a server to a DC without it going into production? We want to be able to test it out first before we make it fully operational?

Installing 2012 R2 and making it a domain controller

Active Directory (AD) is a Microsoft brand for identity-related capabilities. In the on-premises world, Windows Server AD provides a set of identity capabilities and services, and is hugely popular (88% of Fortune 1000 and 95% of enterprises use AD). This topic includes all things Active Directory including DNS, Group Policy, DFS, troubleshooting, ADFS, and all other topics under the Microsoft AD and identity umbrella.

Active Directory

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Windows Server 2012

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