Active Directory Cookbook

3.1. Promoting a Domain Controller

Problem

You want to promote a server to a domain controller. You may need to promote a domain controller to either initially create a domain in an Active Directory forest or add additional domain controllers to the domain for load balancing and failover.

Solution

Run dcpromo.exe from a command line or via Start → Run and answer the questions according to the forest and domain you want to promote the server into.

Discussion

Promoting a server to a domain controller is the process where the server becomes authoritative for an Active Directory domain. When you run the dcpromo program, a wizard interface walks you through a series of screens that collects information about the forest and domain to promote the server into. There are several options for promoting a server:

• Promoting into a new forest (See Recipe 2.1)

• Promoting into a new domain tree or child domain (See Recipe 2.3)

• Promoting into an existing domain

You can automate the promotion process by running dcpromo during an unattended installation. See Recipe 3.4 for more details.

See Also

Recipe 2.1 for creating a new forest, Recipe 2.3 for creating a new domain, and MS KB 238369 (HOW TO: Promote and Demote Domain Controllers in Windows 2000)