Does Azure AD connect only apply to on-prem domain controllers and not cloud based domain controllers? I currently have Active Directory Domain Services on a VM and I'm looking to sync up the users to our Azure Active Directory.
An "on-prem domain controller" and a "cloud based domain controller" as you have described them are the same thing, except that one is hosted on server hardware either at a company's office or another hosting provider (e.g.: a co-located datacenter), whereas the "cloud based domain controller" is hosted on server/compute hardware provided by Azure IaaS (Infrastructrure-as-a-Service). It's the same server operating systems, same Windows Server Active Directory, etc. AAD Connect will work exactly the same in either case.
gotcha, thanks! follow up question, does AAD Connect need to be installed on a separate VM or can it be installed on the same VM as the domain controller? Or is it mainly just preference?
It's supported to install it on a domain controller but in instances where you need to troubleshoot, upgrade, reinstall, etc, having them separated has a lot of benefits. Having to reboot a domain controller to reinstall AAD Connect, for instance, adds more logistical considerations than if it were on a standalone server.
understood! I think we were thinking towards putting it in its own server. lastly, do you by any chance have any links or know where I can get started on how to get AAD Connect pre-installed on the server using DSC?
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