this looks not like an issue regarding ESX. The error message says "Access denied". Maybe your account (domain admin, enterprise admin?) doesn't have the permission to promote a machine to a domain controller.
We're running several domain controllers in our Virtual Infrastructure. From my point of view there is no limitation running a virtualized domain controller.
I'd agree with the above - if you couldn't connect to your domain I'd say there was something worth looking at in ESX but it looks like an AD permissions issue, pure and simple.
Does the account you're using to promote the DC have sufficient privileges to do that?
This isn't ESX related, but anywho...is this the first domain in the forest? have you edited the Default Domain Controllers Policy in any way? A quick googling suggests problems with this GPO, especially the settings under Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> User Rights Assignment. Check the "Enable computer and user accounts to be trusted for delegation" policy, what groups and accounts does it contain?
-- Edward L. Haletky vExpert XIV: 2009-2023, VMTN Community Moderator vSphere Upgrade Saga: https://www.astroarch.com/blogs GitHub Repo: https://github.com/Texiwill
