Windows 2008 Answer file

Windows 2008 answer file.

You can use this answer file to future Windows 2008 unattended installations. This file includes the new options for Windows 2008 R2 as described here. I have included the possible values and description for those values. ALL options were disable. You can enable each option by removing the semicolon (;) and the forward slash (/) then configure the correct value for that option. ALL options were commented. Hopefully this will help you to configure the correct options according with your needs.

Open your text editor and copy the text that is between the lines “->Begin” and “->End” to a text file. Save the text file with .txt extension and you’re ready to start the configuration of the existing options in this file. After that configuration, you can use the answer file with dcpromo.exe as follows:

dcpromo /unattend: "path to the answer file"

->Begin

[DCINSTALL]

;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - YES NO
;Default Value - NO
;Description - Specifies whether an existing domain is re-created.

;/AllowDomainReinstall
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - YES NO
;Default Value - NO
;Description - Specifies whether to continue installing this domain controller
; despite the fact that an active domain controller account with
; the same name is detected.
; Specify Yes only if you are sure that the account is no longer
; in use.

;/AllowDomainControllerReinstall
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values- "partition_DN_1 partition_DN_2 ...partition_DN_n"
;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies application partitions to be replicated in the format
; of "partition1" "partition2".
; If * is specified, all application partitions will be replicated.
; Use space-separated (or comma-and-space-separated) distinguished
; names, with the entire string enclosed in quotation marks.

;/ApplicationPartitionsToReplicate
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - (This parameter has been renamed to /InstallDNS)
; - Yes No
;Default Value - Computed automatically based on the environment.
;Description - Specifies whether Domain Name System (DNS) is configured for a
; new domain if Dcpromo detects that the DNS dynamic update protocol
; is not available or if Dcpromo detects an insufficient number of
; DNS servers for an existing domain.

;/InstallDNS
;/AutoconfigDNS
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - child_domain_name
;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies the single-label DNS name of the child domain.

;/ChildName
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - YES NO
;Default Value - Yes, unless you are creating the first domain controller in a
; new child domain or new domain tree.
;Description - Specifies whether the domain controller is a global catalog server.

;/ConfirmGc
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - YES NO
;Default Value - Computed automatically based on the environment.
;Description - Indicates whether to create a DNS delegation that refers to this
; new DNS server. Valid for Active Directory–integrated DNS only.

;/CreateDNSDelegation
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - YES NO
;Default Value - NO
;Description - Specifies whether the promotion operation performs only critical
; replication before reboot and then continues, skipping the
; noncritical (and potentially lengthy) portion of replication.
; The noncritical replication happens after the role installation
; finishes and the computer restarts.

;/CriticalReplicationOnly
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - path_to_database_files
;Default Value - %systemroot%\NTDS
;Description - Specifies the fully qualified, non–Universal Naming Convention
; (UNC) path to a directory on a fixed disk of the local computer
; that contains the domain database, for example, C:\Windows\NTDS.

;/DatabasePath
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - User or group
;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies the name of the user or group who will install and
; administer the read-only domain controller (RODC). If no value is
; specified, only members of the Domain Admins group or Enterprise
; Admins group can install and administer the RODC.

;/DelegatedAdmin
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - Password *
;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies the password for the user name (the account credentials)
; that is used to create or remove the DNS delegation. Specify * to
; prompt the user to enter credentials.

;/DNSDelegationPassword
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - user_name
;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies the user name to be used when the DNS delegation is
; created or removed. If you do not specify a value, the account
; credentials that you specify for the AD DS installation or removal
; are used for the DNS delegation.

;/DNSDelegationUserName
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - YES NO
;Default Value - YES;Description - Specifies whether the DNS Server service is available on the
; network. This parameter is used only when the network adapter for
; this computer is not configured with the name of a DNS server for
; name resolution. Specifying No indicates that the DNS server will
; be installed on this computer for name resolution. Otherwise, the
; network adapter must be configured with a DNS server name first.

;/DNSOnNetwork
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - 0 2 3 4
;Default Value - Based on levels existing in the forest.
;Description - Specifies the domain functional level when a new domain is created
; in an existing forest, as follows:
; 0 = Windows 2000 native
; 2 = Windows Server 2003
; 3 = Windows Server 2008
; 4 = Windows Server 2008 R2

;/DomainLevel
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - domain_NetBIOS_name
;Default Value - Left-most label of the DNS name.
;Description - Assigns a NetBIOS name to the new domain.

;/DomainNetBiosName
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - 0 2 3 4
;Default Value - 0
;Description - Specifies the forest functional level when a new domain is
; created in a new forest, as follows:
; 0 = Windows 2000
; 2 = Windows Server 2003
; 3 = Windows Server 2008
; 4 = Windows Server 2008 R2
; ForestLevel replaces SetForestVersion in Windows Server 2003.
; Do not use this switch when you are installing a domain controller
; in an existing forest.

;/ForestLevel
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - (This switch replaces /AutoConfigDNS)
; YES NO
;Default Value - Computed automatically based on the environment.
;Description - Specifies whether DNS is configured for a new domain if Dcpromo
; detects that the DNS dynamic update protocol is not available or
; if Dcpromo detects an insufficient number of DNS servers for an
; existing domain.

;/InstallDNS
;/AutoConfigDNS
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - Path_to_log_files
;Default Value - %systemroot%\ NTDS
;Description - Specifies the fully qualified, non-UNC path to a directory on a
; fixed disk of the local computer that contains the domain log
; files, for example, C:\Windows\NTDS."

;/LogPath
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - Forest Tree Child
;Default Value - Forest
;Description - Specifies the type of new domain:
; The root domain of a new forest
; The root domain of a new tree in an existing forest
; A child domain in an existing forest
; The type of new domain must be specified when AD DS is installed
; on a Server Core installation.

;/NewDomain
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - DNS_domain_name
;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for the new domain.

;/NewDomainDNSName
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - DNS_domain_name;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies the FQDN of an existing parent domain when a child
; domain is installed.

;/ParentDomainDNSName
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - Password *
;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies the password that corresponds to the user name
; (account credentials) that is used to promote the domain
; controller. Specify * to prompt the user to enter credentials.

;/Password
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - Security_Principal NONE
;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies the names of computer and user accounts whose passwords
; can be replicated to this RODC. Specify "None" if you want to keep
; the value empty. By default, no user credentials will be cached
; on this RODC. To specify more than one security principal, add
; the entry multiple times.

;/PasswordReplicationAllowed
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - Security_Principal NONE
;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies the names of user, group, and computer accounts whose
; passwords are not to be replicated to this RODC. Specify None if
; you do not want to deny the replication of credentials of any
; users or computers. To specify more than one security principal,
; add the entry multiple times.

;/PasswordReplicationDenied
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - YES NO
;Default Value - YES
;Description - Specifies whether to restart the computer upon completion,
; regardless of success.

;/RebootOnCompletion
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - Yes No NoAndNoPromptEither
;Default Value - YES
;Description - Specifies whether to restart the computer upon successful
; completion of an operation.

;/RebootOnSuccess
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - DNS_domain_name
;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies the FQDN of the domain in which you want to promote an
; additional domain controller.

;/ReplicaDomainDNSName
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - Replica ReadOnlyReplica Domain
;Default Value - Replica
;Description - Specifies whether to install the domain controller as:
; An additional domain controller in an existing domain
; An RODC in an existing domain
; The first domain controller in a new domain

;/ReplicaOrNewDomain
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - DNS_name_of_source;Default Value -
;Description - Indicates the FQDN of the partner domain controller from which
; Active Directory data is replicated to create the new
; domain controller.

;/ReplicationSourceDC
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - path_to_installation_media;Default Value -
;Description - Indicates the location of the installation media that will be
; used to install a new domain controller.

;/ReplicationSourcePath
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - password NONE
;Default Value -
;Description - The password for the administrator account to use when you start
; the computer in Safe Mode or a variant of Safe Mode, such as
; Directory Service Restore Mode (DSRM). You cannot specify a
; blank password.

;/SafeModeAdminPassword
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - site_name
;Default Value - (The default value for the /SiteName parameter depends on the
; type of installation. For a new forest, the default is
; Default-First-Site-Name. For all other writable domain controller
; installations, the default is the site that is associated with
; the subnet that includes the IP address of this server.
; If no such site exists, the default is the site of the replication
; source domain controller. For an RODC installation, you must
; specify the site name where the RODC will be installed)
;Description - The name of an existing site where you can place the new
; domain controller.

;/SiteName
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - No value is required.
;Default Value -
;Description - This switch is for expert users who want to skip automatic
; configuration of client settings, forwarders, and root hints.
; The switch is in effect only if the DNS Server service is already
; installed on the server, in which case you will receive an
; informational message confirming that the automatic configuration
; of DNS was skipped. Otherwise, this switch is ignored. If you
; specify this switch, ensure that zones are created and properly
; configured before you install AD DS or the domain controller will
; not operate correctly. This switch does not skip automatic creation
; of the DNS delegation in the parent DNS zone. To control DNS
; delegation creation, use the /CreateDNSDelegation switch.

;/SkipAutoConfigDNS
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - NONE system key
;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies the system key for the media from which you
; replicate the data.

;/Syskey
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - path_to_SYSVOL_folder
;Default Value - %systemroot%\ sysvol
;Description - Specifies the fully qualified, non-UNC path to a directory on a
; fixed disk of the local computer, for example, C:\\Windows\SYSVOL.

;/SysVolPath
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - YES NO
;Default Value - NO
;Description - Specifies whether to transfer the infrastructure master role to
; this domain controller, in case it is currently hosted on a global
; catalog server and you do not plan to make this domain controller
; a global catalog server. Choose Yes to transfer the infrastructure
; master role to this domain controller in case this is needed.
; If you choose Yes, be sure to specify /ConfirmGC:No.

;/TransferIMRoleIfNeeded
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - domain_name;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies the domain name for the user name (account credentials)
; that is used for promoting a domain controller.

;/UserDomain
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Possible Values - Domain\user_name;Default Value -
;Description - Specifies the user name (account credentials) that is used for
; promoting a domain controller. We recommend that you specify the
; account credentials in the domain\user_name format.

;/UserName
;****************************************************************************************
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

->End