To install Active Directory on a Windows Server, one runs dcpromo. Consequently, one would have to answer a couple of questions, click 'next', and so on. However, the whole process can be automated by supplying an answer file, a text file that contains all parameters for the Active Directory setup. dcpromo is then executed without any intervention by the system administrator. The command to execute is dcpromo /answer=<name_of_answerfile>. Here's a sample answer file. Additional information can be found in the help (.chm) files in the Support Tools folder on the Windows Server setup CD.
[DCINSTALL] NewDomainDNSName=kicks.local DomainNetbiosName=kicks ReplicaOrNewDomain=Domain NewDomain=Forest CreateOrJoin = Create TreeOrChild = Tree SetForestVersion = Yes DatabasePath=G:\NTDS LogPath=H:\NTDS SysvolPath=I:\Sysvol DNSOnNetwork=no AutoConfigDNS=yes AllowAnonymousAccess=no DisableCancelForDnsInstall = Yes CriticalReplicationOnly = Yes RebootOnSuccess=Yes