How to install secondary domain controller as server core?

Doria 1,246 Reputation points
2020-08-05T15:26:46.4+00:00

Hi everyone!

How to install secondary domain controller as server core on 2k19?

Thanks.

Active Directory
Active Directory
A set of directory-based technologies included in Windows Server.
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  1. Daisy Zhou 17,991 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2020-08-06T09:51:50.353+00:00

    Hello Doria-6500,

    Thank you for posting here.

    Here are the answer for your references.

    Q: How to install secondary domain controller as server core on 2k19?

    A: Before we do any change in existing AD domain environment, we had better do:

    1.Check if AD environment is healthy.
    Check all DCs in this domain is working fine by running Dcdiag /v on every DC.
    Check if AD replication works properly by running repadmin /showrepl and repadmin /replsum on every DC.
    2.Back up all domain controllers if needed.

    I did a test in my lab to install a secondary DC in the existing domain. Here are the steps for your reference.

    My AD environment is like this:
    Domain name: A.lab
    The first domain controller is also a DNS server, its IP address is 192.168.2.50.

    1.After installing Server Core, ensure that the server has a valid IP-Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway, and a computer name that matches the naming conventions. The easiest way to do this is to use the sconfig command (machine is in the workgroup).
    16124-i1.png

    2.According to the prompted options, type 15, click Enter.
    Installing an additional Domain Controller
    Windows Server Core starts with cmd by default. In cmd type powershell and hit enter.
    16131-i2.png

    3.First we install the Active Directory Services Role.
    Type command like follows: Install-WindowsFeature -Name AD-Domain-Services -IncludeManagementTools
    16132-i3.png

    4.After installation new commands are available. I will use some of them to promote the server to a Domain Controller of my domain A.lab
    Type Command like follows:Get-Command -Module ADDSDeployment
    16133-i4.png

    5.Make sure the DNS is set correctly. If your first DC is your DNS server then use its’ IP like so:
    Set-DnsClientServerAddress –InterfaceAlias <Ethernet> -ServerAddresses <192.168.2.50>

    For example:
    Set-DnsClientServerAddress –InterfaceAlias NIC1 -ServerAddresses 192.168.2.50

    Tip: we need to replace the content in “<>” based on the information in your AD environment.

    6.Next we will promote the server to a domain controller in an existing domain.
    Type Command like follows:
    Install-ADDSDomainController -InstallDns -Credential (Get-Credential <DomainName\Administrator>) -DomainName <DomainName> -SafeModeAdministratorPassword (ConvertTo-SecureString -AsPlainText "<Administrator Password>" -Force)

    Tip: we need to replace the content in “<>” based on the information in your AD environment.

    For example:
    Install-ADDSDomainController -InstallDns -Credential (Get-Credential A\Administrator) -DomainName A.lab -SafeModeAdministratorPassword (ConvertTo-SecureString -AsPlainText "************" -Force)

    7.You will be prompted to enter again the password for the domain administrator.
    16078-i5.png

    8.Accept with [Y] Yes to continue.
    16141-i6.png

    9.Waiting until the machine restart.
    16037-i7.png

    10.After restarting, we can see the information by running sconfig on this server core ( machine VSTEPY89VM is in the domain named a.lab) and you can see in ADUC that this Server Core has joined the domain on the first DC with GUI.
    16134-i8.png

    Hope that the operations above are helpful.

    Best Regards,
    Daisy Zhou

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  1. Dave Patrick 425.7K Reputation points MVP
    2020-08-05T15:37:44.477+00:00

    Some basic operations here for core server.
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/server-core/server-core-administer

    and some options here to remotely manage and configure the new server.
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/server-core/server-core-manage

    --please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--


  2. Orestes Tabares 0 Reputation points
    2023-04-11T15:27:23.9966667+00:00

    All worked fine, except for: Set-DnsClientServerAddress –InterfaceAlias <Ethernet> -ServerAddresses <192.168.2.50> It was impossible to put an alias that could be recognized. Other than that, it promoted de Server to DC just fine.User's image

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