Installing Active Directory Domain Controller service on Windows Server Core 2008 R2

If you need to install AD DC on the core server where there is no GUI, you will have to create a unattend file and run the dcpromo.exe /unattend:unattend.txt

Create an unattend.txt file with the following 

[DCInstall]
ReplicaOrNewDomain = Domain
NewDomain=Forest
NewDomainDNSName = dctest.local
AutoConfigDNS=Yes
RebootOnSuccess = NoAndNoPromptEither

SafeModeAdminPassword = PasswordComplex

Note: please install a static ip address on the server before proceeding to the AD DC.