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How to install Active Directory Domain Services on Server Core with dcpromo
By Michael Pietroforte | 2 Comments | Permalink | Trackback | Previous | NextSteve Rosa described how he installed Active Directory Domain Services on Server Core in Windows Server 2008. Even though, Active Directory is just another server role, you can’t install it with ocsetup on Server Core. Like on the standard version of Windows Server 2008 you have to use dcpromo.
The problem is that dcpromo starts a wizard with a graphical user interface. But on Server Core doesn’t support GUIs. That’s why you have to provide the input for dcpromo using an answer file. I’ve read about this before, and it seemed to be a rather complicated way to install a domain controller. However Steve’s post shows that it is easier than I thought.
I suppose, this is also a model for third party software. Most Windows programs expect a graphical interface for the installation procedure. The easiest way for third-party vendors to adapt their software installation procedures for Sever Core will be to support answer files.
The easiest way to run DCPROMO on a Windows Server 2008 Core Installation is to use Core Configurator. Here is a video which demonstrates this:
http://www.netometer.com/video/tutorials/2008-server-core-dcpromo-coreconfigurator/
Regards,
Dean
Dean, thanks for the link. I blogged about Core Configurator a while back.