This task sequence step configures the target computer as an Active Directory® Domain Services (AD DS) domain controller. For more information about the settings listed in the following tables and which this task sequence step can configure, see the Microsoft Help and Support article, Unattended promotion and demotion of Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 domain controllers.

The unique properties and settings for the Configure ADDS task sequence step type are:

Properties

Name

Description

Type

Set this read-only type to Configure ADDS.

 

Settings

Name

Description

Create

Specifies the configuration set that will be used to configure the target computer. The configuration sets are:

·     New domain controller replica. Creates an additional domain controller in an existing AD DS domain

·     New read-only domain controller (RODC) replica. Creates an RODC (Windows Server 2008 only)

·     New domain in existing forest. Creates a domain in an existing AD DS forest

·     New domain tree in existing forest. Creates a new tree in an existing AD DS forest

·     New forest. Creates a new AD DS forest

Domain DNS name

The DNS name of the new or existing domain.

Domain NetBIOS name

The NetBIOS name of the new child domain, child domain tree, or forest that pre–AD DS clients use to access the domain. This name must be unique on the network.

DNS name

The DNS name of the child domain or domain tree.

Replication source domain controller

The name of the domain controller from which to source AD DS on new replica or backup domain controller upgrade installations. If no value is supplied, the closest domain controller from the domain being replicated will be selected by default.

Account

The account to be used to perform the configuration.

Recovery (safe mode) password

The password for the offline Administrator account that is used in AD DS Repair mode.

Install DNS if not already present

When selected, DNS will be installed if it has not already been installed.

Make this domain controller a global catalog (GC) server

Specifies whether the replica will also be a GC server. When selected, the target computer will be configured as a GC server if the replication source domain controller is a GC server.

Wait for critical replication only

When selected, this setting specifies that only critical replication is sourced during the replication phase of Dcpromo. Noncritical replication resumes when the computer restarts as a domain controller.

Forest functional level

Specifies the functional level for a new forest. Available options are:

·     Windows Server 2003

·     Windows Server 2008

·     Windows Server 2008 R2

Domain functional level

Specifies the functional level for a new domain. Available options are:

·     Windows Server 2003

·     Windows Server 2008

·     Windows Server 2008 R2

Database

Fully qualified, non–Universal Naming Convention (UNC) directory on a hard disk of the local computer that will host the AD DS database (NTDS.dit). If the directory exists, it must be empty. If it does not exist, it will be created. Free disk space on the logical drive selected must be 200 megabytes (MB) and possibly larger when rounding errors are encountered and to accommodate all objects in the domain. For best performance, the directory should be located on a dedicated hard disk.

Log files

Fully qualified, non-UNC directory on a hard disk on the local computer to host the AD DS log files. If the directory exists, it must be empty. If it does not exist, it will be created.

SYSVOL

Fully qualified, non-UNC directory on a hard disk of the local computer that will host the AD DS System Volume (SYSVOL) files. If the directory exists, it must be empty. If it does not exist, it will be created. The directory must be located on a partition that is formatted with the NTFS version 5.0 file system. For best performance, the directory should be located on a different physical hard disk than the operating system.

Site name

The value of an existing AD DS site on which to locate the new domain controller. If not specified, an appropriate site will be selected. This option only applies to the new tree in a new forest scenario. For all other scenarios, a site will be selected using the current site and subnet configuration of the forest.

 

Related Topics

Specific Properties and Settings for Task Sequence Step Types