Promoting a domain controller using Windows PowerShell

For the Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell, Microsoft has decided to take a slightly different route. Instead of using a single PowerShell cmdlet to promote a domain controller, there are three separate PowerShell cmdlets for each of the three scenarios, as presented as part of the Active Directory Domain Services Configuration Wizard:

 

To add a domain controller to an existing domain, the simplest script would look like that shown in the following example:

Install-WindowsFeature AD-Domain-Services -IncludeManagementTools

Import-Module ADDSDeployment

Install-ADDSDomainController -DomainName lucernpub.com

However, to add a domain controller to an existing domain, as you would in the previous three examples, the following script would suffice:

Install-WindowsFeature AD-Domain-Services -IncludeManagementTools

Import-Module ADDSDeployment

Install-ADDSDomainController -DomainName lucernpub.com -Credential 
(Get-Credential) -installDNS:$true -NoGlobalCatalog:$false -DatabasePath "E:\NTDS" -Logpath "E:\Logs" -SysvolPath "E:\SYSVOL" -Sitename RemoteLocation

This will add a domain controller to the lucernpub.com Active Directory domain, using credentials you will be prompted for securely. The domain controller will be installed with a DNS Server and configured as a global catalog server. All the Active Directory-related files are stored in corresponding folders on the E:\ drive, and when successful, the Windows Server installation you intend as domain controller will be rebooted automatically.

Replace the values in the preceding sample file with the values of your choice.