8.3. Joining a Computer to a Domain

Problem

You want to join a computer to a domain after the computer object has already been created in Active Directory.

Solution

Using a graphical user interface

  1. Log onto the computer you want to join and open the Control Panel.

  2. Open the System applet.

  3. Click the Computer Name tab.

  4. Click the Change button.

  5. Under Member of, select Domain.

  6. Enter the domain you want to join and click OK.

  7. You may be prompted to enter credentials that have permission to join the computer.

  8. Reboot the computer.

  9. Note that the tabs in the System applet vary between Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003.

Using a command-line interface

> netdom join <ComputerName> /Domain <DomainName> /UserD <DomainUserUPN>[RETURN]
/PasswordD * /UserO <ComputerAdminUser> /PasswordO * /Reboot

Using VBScript

' This code joins a computer to a domain.
' ------ SCRIPT CONFIGURATION ------
strComputer     = "<ComputerName>"      ' e.g. joe-xp
strDomain       = "<DomainName>"        ' e.g. rallencorp.com
strDomainUser   = "<DomainUserUPN>"     ' e.g. administrator@rallencorp.com
strDomainPasswd = "<DomainUserPasswd>"
strLocalUser    = "<ComputerAdminUser>" ' e.g. administrator
strLocalPasswd  = "<ComputerUserPasswd>" ' ------ END CONFIGURATION --------- '######################## ' Constants '######################## Const JOIN_DOMAIN = 1 Const ACCT_CREATE = 2 Const ACCT_DELETE = 4 Const WIN9X_UPGRADE = 16 Const DOMAIN_JOIN_IF_JOINED = 32 Const JOIN_UNSECURE = 64 Const MACHINE_PASSWORD_PASSED = 128 Const DEFERRED_SPN_SET = 256 Const ...

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