Installing a New Windows Server 2008 Domain Tree by Using the Command Line
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
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
When you have typed all the options that are required to create the child domain, press ENTER.