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Can I DCPromo multiple new DCs at once?

iconoclast88 61 Reputation points
2022-07-07T20:50:53.987+00:00

i have 5 2012r2 DCs. 2 in one site, 3 in the other site.

I am introducing 3 new 2019 DCs in one site, and 3 DCs in the other site.

I don't want to do them one at a time if i don't have to.

Not demoting anything this night just promoting. the 5 2012 r2 DCs will stay online.

Is there any problem with Promoting 1 at each site at the same time, or just promoting all of them at the same time?

Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
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Active Directory
Active Directory
A set of directory-based technologies included in Windows Server.
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  1. Anonymous
    2022-07-07T21:07:16.687+00:00

    Probably is possible to do but just seems a bit risky, better option is to confirm health / replication both before and after each one is done.

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

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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  1. cthivierge 4,056 Reputation points
    2022-07-08T01:19:27.327+00:00

    As @Anonymous said, theorically it should not cause any issue. I have already tried this in a lab environment and it's working fine. But i would recommend to promote one DC at the time.

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  2. Sam Erde 151 Reputation points
    2022-07-08T02:12:42.887+00:00

    It sounds like what you really might benefit from is scripted DC promotions. This will automate the repeated tasks and reduce the chance of human error--while also giving you the possibility (if you really want it) of doing near-simultaneous promotions. Still, the best advice is to test replication health between each one.

    Much of the work can be scripted with PowerShell or by using an unattend answer file.

    Documentation for the unattend file can be found here, and it is supported at least up through Windows Server 2019.

    PowerShell is the ideal way to do it now. Here is an example of what that could look like: 

    Install-WindowsFeature AD-Domain-Services -IncludeManagementTools  
Import-Module ADDSDeployment    
Install-ADDSDomainController `    
-NoGlobalCatalog:$false `    
-CreateDnsDelegation:$false `    
-CriticalReplicationOnly:$false `    
-DatabasePath “C:\Windows\NTDS” `    
-DomainName “example.com” `    
-InstallDns:$true `    
-LogPath “C:\Windows\NTDS” `    
-NoRebootOnCompletion:$false `    
-SiteName “Default-First-Site-Name” `    
-SysvolPath “C:\Windows\SYSVOL” `    
-Force:$true

    FMI, review the documentation for Install-ADDSDomainController.

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