What is required to log in for a staged installation of an RODC?

To log in for a staged installation of a Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC), using the local administrator account on the target server is required. This is because during the staged installation process, the server must be set up independently of the domain for the initial configuration. The local administrator account provides the necessary permissions to perform the installation on that specific machine, as the server, at this point, is not yet fully integrated into the Active Directory environment that would allow domain accounts to function properly.

The importance of using the local administrator account lies in ensuring that you have direct administrative control over the server to carry out the initial setup tasks that don’t yet involve domain authentication. Once the staged installation is complete and the RODC is integrated into the domain, it can then utilize domain accounts for ongoing management and authentication purposes. This setup process is designed to enhance security and streamline the addition of RODCs in a domain environment, especially where physical security may be a concern.