Azure Domain Controllers on Windows Server Core

The following steps describe how to add a new Azure VM running Windows Server Core 2022 as an additional domain controller to an existing domain. The scope of this article covers the basic steps you would take after deploying the infrastructure. Architecture, infrastructure deployment, and domain administration are not covered here. For assistance with those items, please head over to Microsoft Learn.

Prerequisites

• The server core VM must have line of sight to an existing domain controller
• Console or remote access to the server core VM
• A domain account with permission to promote the new server to a domain controller
• Ensure the NIC DNS configuration for the server core VM is pointing to existing domain controller(s).

Prep data disk for OS

1. Console into the server core VM and choose option 15 to enter command line.
2. Run DISKPART commands. Be sure to change “X” in the lines below as needed for your environment

   diskpart
   list disk
   select disk X
   clean
   convert gpt
   create partition primary
   list partition
   select partition X
   format fs=ntfs label="ADDS" quick
   assign letter=X
   exit
   

Install Windows Features

1. Switch to powershell

   powershell
   

2. Install Windows Features

   Install-WindowsFeature -Name "AD-Domain-Services"
   

Promote the server to a domain controller

Update the parameter values below for your environment

1. Specify the account credentials with permissions to perform domain controller promotion

   $credential = (Get-Credential "CORP\azureadmin")
   

2. Run the DC promotion command.

   Install-ADDSDomainController -Credential $credential -DomainName "corp.robpitcher.com" -InstallDns -DatabasePath "F:\Windows\NTDS" -LogPath "F:\Windows\NTDS" -SysvolPath "F:\Windows\SYSVOL" -SiteName "Default-First-Site-Name"