Installing Active Directory on Server Core with an Answer File

Active Directory still gets installed by using DCPromo on Server Core, however you will have to use the /unattend: switch. In my case I copied the following sample answer file to the C:\temp directory and then ran the following command to install Active Directory using an answer file - dcpromo /unattend:c:\temp\answer.txt Here is a look at the answer file (don't worry I just made that password up for this demo).

This is the Replica Domain Controller Answer File:
[DCINSTALL]
UserName=administrator
UserDomain=AdminPrep.local
Password=$up3rT0p$3cr3t
SiteName=Default-First-Site-Name
ReplicaOrNewDomain=replica
DatabasePath="%systemroot%\NTDS"
LogPath="%systemroot%\NTDS"
SYSVOLPath="%systemroot%\SYSVOL"
InstallDNS=yes
ReplicaDomainDNSName=AdminPrep.local
ConfirmGC=yes
SafeModeAdminPassword=$up3rT0p$3cr3t
RebootOnCompletion=yes

As I've written this blog I noticed on Microsoft's site that they have a KB that can be of further assistance with doing unattended installs or removals of Active Directory. take a look at KB947034.

Author : shankar

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