Monthly Archives: April 2018

Windows Server: Add and configure a new DC server using PowerShell

Preconfiguration

After the server is freshly installed, we need to configure the following settings:

  • Setup the network properly, especially its static IP address
  • Setup the desired hostname
  • Setup the time configuration, especially the timezone, using NTP (optional)
  • Apply the latest updates before moving on to DC roles installation

Network setup

Connect remotely to your new server using PowerShell

Enter-PSSession -ComputerName COMPUTERNAME -Credential USER

Use the following article to configure the network, fix the IP address and remove the DHCP configuration: https://blog.fevio.fr/2005/04/windows-server-set-up-a-network-adapter-using-powershell/

Change the hostname

Rename-Computer -NewName "NewServerName"

Update the time settings

Follow this article: https://blog.fevio.fr/2000/09/windows-server-ntp-configuration/

Then, upgrade your server before moving on.

Directory Controller Configuration

From the previous remote PowerShell session, run the following command: 

Install-WindowsFeature -Name AD-Domain-Services -IncludeManagementTools

For a WHOLE NEW FOREST/DOMAIN

Now, we install the corresponding roles, choose the different paths we want to use and tell we want to create a DNS server as well

Install-ADDSForest -DomainName "fevio.fr" -InstallDNS -DatabasePath "C:\NTDS" -SysvolPath "C:\SYSVOL" -LogPath "C:\Logs"

Or, to add a DC to an EXISTANT domain

Use the following command instead: 

Install-ADDSDomainController -InstallDns -DatabasePath "C:\NTDS" -SysvolPath "C:\SYSVOL" -LogPath "C:\Logs" -Credential (Get-Credential "fevio.fr\Administrator") -DomainName "fevio.fr"

The server will then install the different roles required, including the DNS part, and reboot after the process ends.

Note that, running repadmin.exe /replsummary through a remote PS shell will fail, to check the replication status you will need to run those commands from the local terminal of your server, or through a remote desktop session for a non-core server.