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Sunday, March 18, 2012

Windows Server 8 - DCPromo? Install domain Controller using the Command Line.

I am playing around with Windows Server 8, and wanted to setup a first domain controller for the Windows Server 8 test domain. Since I like the command-line, I configured the Ip address using the netsh cmdlet and changed the computer name using netdom. After the reboot, I reopened Powershell and ran "DcPromo", which gave me following answer:
  Darn, did DCpromo get removed? No, I not want to use the server manager, I want to use the command line tools ;). Lets try CMD.
Doh, what about powershell cmdlets?
First we Import the server manager to check the availability of Active Directory services:
[Code]
Import-Module Servermanager
Get-WindowsFeature
[/code]
The feature we where looking for is the "AD-Domain-Services"
Add the feature using the Add-WindowsFeature CmdLet
[Code]
Add-Windowsfeature AD-Domain-Services
[/Code]
Once the feature is installed you get access to a new powershell module. You can always check the installed modules by using the Get-Module CmdLet.
The new commandlet that is available is the ADDSDeployment. Import the new module:
[Code]
Import-Module ADDSDeployment
[/Code]
No we are finally ready to install the Active Directory roles:
I used following command for setting up my Windows Server 8 test forest/domain
[Code]
Install-ADDSForest -CreateDNSDelegation:$False -DataBasePath:C:\NTDS\ADDSDB -ForestMode Win8 -DomainName W8Test.local -DomainMode Win8 -DomainNetBiosName W8Test -InstallDNS:$True -LogPath C:\NTDS\Log -SysvolPath C:\NTDS\Sysvol -RebootOnCompletion:$True
[/Code]
You can also add the -Force parameter if you do not want to be promted.

 On completion the server will reboot, in which we have deployed our first Windows Server 8 domain Controller in our new Windows Server 8 Forest and domain.





  

1 comment:

  1. Tried the same thing myself last night (via the new Server Mananger) and got stuck as DCPromo flattly refused to do anything with DNS until I manually added a Primary Zone..
    Just wondering if you or anyone else had the same issue or if there was something I was missing?

    Also not sure why Microsoft felt the need to make us install the roles separately now when the good old DCPromo command of old did everything for you?

    ReplyDelete