I’ve worked with Windows Server in various forms since the 2008 R2 days, and if there’s one role I used to sidestep unless absolutely necessary, it was Active Directory Certificate Services (ADCS). Not because it’s overly complex—but because one misstep in the setup can lead to a chain of certificate headaches down the line. This time around, I needed a clean Enterprise Root CA setup on a fresh Server 2022 VM, so I rolled up my sleeves and got it done.
Why I Went With ADCS This Time
We were prepping a dev environment that needed internal TLS certs for testing LDAP over SSL and a few web apps. Self-signed wasn’t cutting it anymore, and Let’s Encrypt wasn’t viable for the internal-only setup. So, ADCS it was. I ran this on a Hyper-V VM with 32GB RAM, static IP, and domain-joined—nothing fancy, just a clean base.
Step-by-Step: What Actually Worked
1. Prepping the Server
- Static IP?
- Proper hostname?
- Domain-joined and rebooted?
I logged in with an account that’s part of both Enterprise Admins and Domain Admins. If you miss that, the install wizard will quietly fail halfway through—been there.
2. Installing via Server Manager
Started with Server Manager because I wanted to see the role dependencies visually. Clicked through “Add Roles and Features,” selected ADCS, and added the suggested features. The wizard’s info screens are worth reading—especially the one about CA types. I went with Enterprise Root CA since this was the first and only CA in the forest.
3. Configuring ADCS
Here’s where things get real. The wizard asked for the CA type, crypto settings, and validity period. I stuck with SHA256 and a 5-year cert lifespan. Most guides suggest 10 years, but I’ve seen too many orgs forget to renew and scramble later.
4. PowerShell Alternative
Not gonna lie, I tested this on another VM using PowerShell just to compare. These two lines did the trick:
Add-WindowsFeature Adcs-Cert-Authority -IncludeManagementTools
Install-AdcsCertificationAuthority -CAType EnterpriseRootCA
The install was faster, but you miss the visual cues. If you’re scripting this for multiple servers, PowerShell’s the way to go.
Bugs, Quirks, and Gotchas
- The install screen once froze on me—black, silent, no progress bar. Turns out I hadn’t closed Server Manager properly before launching PowerShell. Rookie mistake.
- DNS hiccups during domain join caused the CA to misregister. Fixed it by manually updating the A record and restarting the ADCS service.
Lessons Learned
- Always verify domain membership and DNS resolution before starting.
- If you’re using PowerShell, run it as admin and double-check prerequisites manually.
- Don’t skip the post-install config wizard—it sets the tone for your CA hierarchy.
Final Thoughts
ADCS isn’t as intimidating as it used to be, but it’s still one of those roles where precision matters. Whether you go GUI or PowerShell, the key is knowing your environment and not rushing the setup. I’ve seen too many rushed installs lead to broken certificate chains and trust issues across services.
Ever had a CA setup go sideways because of a missed domain sync or expired cert? Drop your story below—I’d love to hear how others navigate this.
