Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) is an extensible and scalable directory service that can be used to efficiently manage network resources. AD DS uses DNS to organize computers into domains with a hierarchical structure defined on an Internet-wide basis or privately. To install AD DS on Windows Server 2012, the AD DS role is added using the Add Roles and Features Wizard, which installs required binaries. Then the Active Directory Domain Services Configuration Wizard is used to configure the role by selecting options like the forest type and domain/forest functional levels. This promotes the server to a domain controller and completes the AD DS installation.