Home › Deploying domain controllers › Step 2
Installing a domain controller on Server Core
Step 2 of 6 in Deploying domain controllers · video 2:22
What you will learn
- Ways to install the DC role when Server Core has no local GUI
- Installing the AD DS role with Install-WindowsFeature
- Promoting the server with Install-ADDSDomainController
- How PowerShell loads the ADDSDeployment module automatically
About this lesson
Server Core has no local Server Manager window, so the domain controller role has to be installed and configured another way. The lesson lists the options: connect to the core server remotely from Server Manager on another machine, use Windows PowerShell, or use Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) on a client computer. The role files are added with Install-WindowsFeature AD-Domain-Services. Promotion is then done either by starting the AD DS configuration wizard remotely from Server Manager or by running Install-ADDSDomainController with the required values as parameters. The lesson also explains PowerShell module autoloading: calling a cmdlet such as Install-ADDSDomainController loads the ADDSDeployment module automatically, and an error saying the cmdlet is not valid means the module is not available on that machine. A manual Import-Module is needed only in special cases. This is the usual way to build lean domain controllers with a smaller attack surface and fewer updates to apply.
Check yourself
1. Which PowerShell command installs the AD DS role files on a Server Core server?
Install-WindowsFeature AD-Domain-Services. It only adds the role binaries; the server still has to be promoted to a domain controller afterwards.
2. Once the files are installed, which cmdlet promotes the Server Core machine to a domain controller in an existing domain?
Install-ADDSDomainController, with the domain name, credentials and other required values given on the command line, because there is no local wizard to fill in.
3. What happens if you run Install-ADDSDomainController without first running Import-Module ADDSDeployment?
It still works: PowerShell loads the ADDSDeployment module automatically when one of its cmdlets is called. You get an error only if the module is not installed or available.
4. You prefer the familiar configuration wizard, but the target server runs Server Core. How can you still use it?
Add the core server to Server Manager on another computer and run the role installation and the AD DS configuration wizard remotely against it.
Go deeper
This lesson comes from the course below - with the full set of lessons, demonstrations and practice.