How to install Active Directory using PowerShell

1 min read · Updated 16 October 2021

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Third of four articles presenting different methods for installing Active Directory:
- Installing Microsoft Active Directory via the GUI (server 2012, 2012r2, 2016, 2019, 2022)
- Install Microsoft Active Directory via the dcpromo command(server 2003, 2008, 2008r2, 2012, 2012r2, 2016, 2019, 2022)
- Install Microsoft Active Directory via PowerShell (server 2012, 2012r2, 2016, 2019, 2022)
- Installing Microsoft Active Directory via PowerShell DSC (server 2016, 2019, 2022)

PowerShell code - Active Directory installation

# Installing the role.
Add-WindowsFeature -Name AD-Domain-Services -IncludeManagementTools

# Configuring the role
$domaine = 'domaine.tld'
$DsrmPass = 'P@ssword'

Import-Module ADDSDeployment
$params = @{
    CreateDnsDelegation           = $false
    # 2 ou Win2003, 3 ou Win2008, 4 ou Win2008R2, 5 ou Win2012, 6 ou Win2012R2,7 ou WinThreshold
    DomainMode                    = 'Win2012r2'
    DomainName                    = $domaine
    DomainNetbiosName             = $domaine.split('.')[0]
    # 2 ou Win2003, 3 ou Win2008, 4 ou Win2008R2, 5 ou Win2012, 6 ou Win2012R2,7 ou WinThreshold
    ForestMode                    = 'Win2012r2'
    InstallDns                    = $true
    DatabasePath                  = 'C:\Windows\NTDS'
    LogPath                       = 'C:\Windows\NTDS'
    SysvolPath                    = 'C:\Windows\SYSVOL'
    NoRebootOnCompletion          = $false
    Force                         = $true
    SafeModeAdministratorPassword = (ConvertTo-SecureString -AsPlainText -Force -String $DsrmPass)
}
Install-ADDSForest @params