Recipe 8.3 Joining a Computer to a Domain

8.3.1 Problem

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

8.3.2 Solution

8.3.2.1 Using a graphical user interface

Log onto the computer you want to join and open the Control Panel.
Open the System applet.
Click the Computer Name tab.
Click the Change button.
Under Member of, select Domain.
Enter the domain you want to join and click OK.
You may be prompted to enter credentials that have permission to join the computer.
Reboot the computer.
Note that the tabs in the System applet vary between Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003.

8.3.2.2 Using a command-line interface

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

8.3.2.3 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 INSTALL_INVOCATION      = 262144

'###########################
' Connect to Computer
'###########################
set objWMILocator = CreateObject("WbemScripting.SWbemLocator")
objWMILocator.Security_.AuthenticationLevel = 6
set objWMIComputer = objWMILocator.ConnectServer(strComputer,  _
                                                  "root\cimv2", _
                                                 strLocalUser, _
                                                 strLocalPasswd)
set objWMIComputerSystem = objWMIComputer.Get( _
                               "Win32_ComputerSystem.Name='" & _
                               strComputer & "'")

'###########################
' Join Computer
'###########################
rc = objWMIComputerSystem.JoinDomainOrWorkGroup(strDomain, _
                                                strDomainPasswd, _
                                                strDomainUser, _
                                                vbNullString, _
                                                JOIN_DOMAIN)
if rc <> 0 then
    WScript.Echo "Join failed with error: " & rc
else
    WScript.Echo "Successfully joined " & strComputer & " to " & strDomain
end if

8.3.3 Discussion

When trying to add a computer to Active Directory, you must first create the computer object as described in Recipe 8.1 and Recipe 8.2. Then you can join the computer to the domain.

8.3.3.1 Using a graphical user interface

If you have the correct permissions in Active Directory, you can actually create a computer object at the same time as you join it to a domain via the instructions described in the GUI solution. Since the System applet doesn't allow you to specify an OU for the computer object, if it needs to create a computer object, it will do so in the default Computers container. See Recipe 8.1 and Recipe 8.2 for more information on the default computers container and how to change it.

8.3.3.2 Using a command-line interface

The netdom command will attempt to create a computer object for the computer during a join if one does not already exist. An optional /OU switch can be added to specify the OU in which to create the computer object. To do so you'll need to have the necessary permissions to create and manage computer objects in the OU.

There are some restrictions on running the netdom join command remotely. If a Windows XP machine has the ForceGuest security policy setting enabled, you cannot join it remotely. Running the netdom command directly on the machine works regardless of the ForceGuest setting.

8.3.3.3 Using VBScript

In order for the Win32_ComputerSystem::JoinDomainOrWorkGroup method to work remotely, you have to use an AuthenticationLevel equal to 6 so that the traffic between the two machines (namely the passwords) is encrypted. You can also create computer objects using JoinDomainOrWorkGroup by using the ACCT_CREATE flag in combination with JOIN_DOMAIN.

This function works only with Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 and is not available for Windows 2000 and earlier machines.

Just like with the netdom utility, you cannot run this script against a remote computer if that computer has the ForceGuest setting enabled.

8.3.4 See Also

More information on the ForceGuest setting can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/prde_ffs_ypuh.asp, MS KB 238793 (Enhanced Security Joining or Resetting Machine Account in Windows 2000 Domain), MS KB 251335 (Domain Users Cannot Join Workstation or Server to a Domain), MS KB 290403 (How to Set Security in Windows XP Professional That Is Installed in a Workgroup), MSDN: Win32_ComputerSystem::JoinDomainOrWorkgroup, and MSDN: NetJoinDomain