Installing a New Windows Server 2008 Domain Tree by Using the Command Line

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2

Use the following procedure to perform an unattended installation of a new domain tree from the command line. For a complete list of unattended installation options, including default values, allowed values, and descriptions, type dcpromo /?:Promotion at a command prompt, or see Promotion Operation.

Administrative credentials

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Enterprise Admins group in the forest.

To install a new domain tree by entering unattended installation parameters at the command line

  1. At a command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    dcpromo /unattend /<unattendOption>:<value> /<unattendOption>:<value> ...

    Where:

    • <unattendOption> is an option in the Promotion Operation table. Separate each <option:value> pair with a space.

    • <value> is the configuration instruction for the option.

    The following example creates the first domain controller in a new domain tree where you expect to install at least some Windows Server 2003 domain controllers:

    dcpromo /unattend /InstallDns:yes /ParentDomainDNSName:<contoso.com> /replicaOrNewDomain:domain /newDomain:tree /newDomainDnsName:<treyresearch.net> /DomainNetbiosName:<trey> /databasePath:"<e:\Windows\ntds>" /logPath:"<e:\Windows\ntds>" /sysvolpath:"<e:\Windows\sysvol>" /safeModeAdminPassword:<FH#3573.cK> /forestLevel:2 /domainLevel:2 /rebootOnCompletion:yes

  2. When you have typed all the options that are required to create the child domain, press ENTER.