How to Create a Domain and add Devices with PowerShell on Windows Server?

December 15, 2022
Windows PowerShell

How to output ADDS services?

The Get-WindowsFeature cmdlet gets information about features that are both available for installation and already installed on a computer running Windows Server or an offline virtual hard disk (VHD) running Windows Server. 

Get-WindowsFeature -Name *ADDS*

How to install ADDS?

The Install-WindowsFeature cmdlet installs the specified features on a computer that is running Windows Server or on an offline virtual hard disk (VHD) that has Windows Server installed. This cmdlet works similarly to installing roles and features in Server Manager, with one important exception: the cmdlet does not install management tools for the features by default. To install management tools such as snap-ins on a target server, you must add the -IncludeManagementTools parameter to your command. 

Install-WindowsFeature -name AD-Domain-Services -IncludeManagementTools

How to create your own domain

The Install-ADDSForest cmdlet installs an Active Directory forest configuration. -InstallDNS specifies that this cmdlet installs and configures the DNS server service for the new forest. NoRebootOnCompletion specifies that the cmdlet does not reboot the computer after the command completes. If you omit this parameter, the computer restarts after the command completes, regardless of success or failure. You can also omit this cmdlet (in the next step, we restart the server). 

Install-ADDSForest -DomainName "YourDomain.com" -InstallDns:$ture -NoRebootOnCompletion:$true

Restart server with PowerShell

With Restart-Computer the server is restarted. 

Restart-Computer

How to add local or remote computer to domain?

The Add-Computer cmdlet adds the local or remote computer to a domain or workgroup, or moves it from one domain to another. It also creates a domain account if the computer is added to the domain without an account.

Local: 

Add-Computer -DomainName YourDomain.com -Restart

Remote: 

Add-Computer -ComputerName SVName01 -DomainName YourDomain.com -Restart