How to add Roles and Features in Windows Server
In this lesson, let us learn how to add Roles and Features in Windows Server using Server Manager. In this example, we are going to add "DHCP Role" and "Remote Server Administration Tools" Feature to a newly installed Windows Server 2025 computer.
If you are new to Roles and Features in Windows Server, please click the following links to learn What are Roles and Features in Windows Server, Roles in Windows Server and Features in Windows Server.
Click the following links to learn how to Remove Roles and Features in Windows Server using Server Manager, how to add Roles and Features using PowerShell and how to remove Roles and Features using PowerShell.
Please watch below steps to learn how to add Roles and Features in a Windows Server.
Step 01 – First, open Server Manager tool by typing Server Manager at Windows Server search box and then by clicking the search result. In Server Manager, click "Manage" and then select "Add Roles and Features" from the drop-down menu, as shown in below image.
Step 02 – "Add Roles and Features Wizard" will be opened as shown in below image. A general introduction about "Add Roles and Features Wizard" is shown in the first screen. Click the "Next" button in this screen.
Step 03 – In "Add Roles and Features Wizard", "Select installation type" screen, select "Role-based or feature–based installation" and then click the "Next" button. Please refer below image.
Step 04 – Select the Windows Server where you want to install the Role and/or Feature (Destination Server). As per your requirement, you may select a Virtual Hard Disk file also.
In this case, I had selected the local server "OMNISECU–12", which is a Windows Server 2025 based server. Click the "Next" button to continue. Please refer below image.
Step 05 – In "Select server roles" screen, select the Role you want to add to the Destination Server by checking the checkbox. In this example, I had selected the "DHCP Server" role, by checking its checkbox.
When you click the checkbox to select the Role, you will be prompted to select the required Feature to manage the selected Role. In this case, you will be prompted to select the "Remote Server Administration Tools > Role Administration Tools > DHCP Server Tools". Click "Add Features" button, as shown in below image.
After adding the required Features, click the "Next" button to continue, as shown in below screenshot.
In case, if you are not sure what DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is, please refer the following links to learn more about DHCP.
• What is DHCP and How DHCP works
Step 06 – The Role will be selected and checked in the checkbox inside "Add Roles and Features Wizard", "Server roles" screen, as shown in below image. Click the "Next" button to continue.
Step 07 – "Add Roles and Features Wizard", "Select features" screen, the "Remote Server Administration Tools > Role Administration Tools > DHCP Server Tools" Feature selected in the Step 05 is selected automatically and that Feature is checked in its checkbox as shown in below image. Click the "Next" button to continue.
Step 08 – In "Add Roles and Features Wizard", "DHCP Server" screen, a short description about DHCP is displayed. Click the "Next" button to continue.
Step 09 – Check "Restart the destination server automatically if required" checkbox, if you want to restart the Destination Windows Server automatically (if required) after adding the Role and Feature in the destination Windows Server. Click "Install" button to install the selected Role and Feature, as shown in below screenshot.
Step 10 – Click the "Close" button to complete adding the Role and Feature to the Windows Server and to exit "Add Roles and Features Wizard", as shown in below image.
The selected Role and Feature are now added to the destination Windows Server.
Written by Jajish Thomas.
Last updated on 10th July, 2024.