Creating Active Directory Computer Accounts

G

Greg K Wong

I am looking for input on how to create multiple computer
accounts in the Active Directory using VBScript. I have been
successful in creating the machine accounts, but I need to be able to
specify a GROUP that may join to the machine to the domain other than
the Domain Administrators. Specifically, when the accounts are
created I would like to enable "Everyone" to join the PC to the
domain.
The script below is directly from Microsoft. It seems to show
how to specify a user or group that can join the machine to a domain,
but I am having trouble getting this to work correctly.

'***********************
'* Start Script
'***********************

Dim sComputerName, sUserOrGroup, sPath, computerContainer, rootDSE,
lFlag
Dim secDescriptor, dACL, ACE, oComputer, sPwd

'*********************************************************************
'* Declare constants used in defining the default location for the
'* machine account, flags to identify the object as a machine account,
'* and security flags
'*********************************************************************

Const UF_WORKSTATION_TRUST_ACCOUNT = &H1000
Const UF_ACCOUNTDISABLE = &H2
Const UF_PASSWD_NOTREQD = &H20
Const ADS_GUID_COMPUTRS_CONTAINER = "aa312825768811d1aded00c04fd8d5cd"
Const ADS_ACETYPE_ACCESS_ALLOWED = 0
Const ADS_ACEFLAG_INHERIT_ACE = 2

'*********************************************************************
'* Set the flags on this object to identify it as a machine account
'* and determine the name. The name is used statically here, but may
'* be determined by a command line parameter or by using an InputBox
'*********************************************************************

lFlag = UF_WORKSTATION_TRUST_ACCOUNT Or UF_ACCOUNTDISABLE Or
UF_PASSWD_NOTREQD
sComputerName = "TestAccount"

'*********************************************************************
'* Establish a path to the container in the Active Directory where
'* the machine account will be created. In this example, this will
'* automatically locate a domain controller for the domain, read the
'* domain name, and bind to the default "Computers" container
'*********************************************************************

Set rootDSE = GetObject("LDAP://RootDSE")
sPath = "LDAP://<WKGUID=" & ADS_GUID_COMPUTRS_CONTAINER
sPath = sPath + ","
sPath = sPath + rootDSE.Get("defaultNamingContext")
sPath = sPath + ">"
Set computerContainer = GetObject(sPath)
sPath = "LDAP://" & computerContainer.Get("distinguishedName")
Set computerContainer = GetObject(sPath)

'*********************************************************************
'* Here, the computer account is created. Certain attributes must
'* have a value before calling .SetInfo to commit (write) the object
'* to the Active Directory
'*********************************************************************

Set oComputer = computerContainer.Create("computer", "CN=" &
sComputerName)
oComputer.Put "samAccountName", sComputerName + "$"
oComputer.Put "userAccountControl", lFlag
oComputer.SetInfo

'*********************************************************************
'* Establish a default password for the machine account
'*********************************************************************

sPwd = sComputerName & "$"
sPwd = LCase(sPwd)
oComputer.SetPassword sPwd

'*********************************************************************
'* Specify which user or group may activate/join this computer to the
'* domain. In this example, "MYDOMAIN" is the domain name and
'* "JoeSmith" is the account being given the permission. Note that
'* this is the downlevel naming convention used in this example.
'*********************************************************************

sUserOrGroup = "MYDOMAIN\joesmith"

'*********************************************************************
'* Bind to the Discretionary ACL on the newly created computer account
'* and create an Access Control Entry (ACE) that gives the specified
'* user or group full control on the machine account
'*********************************************************************

Set secDescriptor = oComputer.Get("ntSecurityDescriptor")
Set dACL = secDescriptor.DiscretionaryAcl
Set ACE = CreateObject("AccessControlEntry")

'*********************************************************************
'* An AccessMask of "-1" grants Full Control
'*********************************************************************

ACE.AccessMask = -1
ACE.AceType = ADS_ACETYPE_ACCESS_ALLOWED
ACE.AceFlags = ADS_ACEFLAG_INHERIT_ACE

'*********************************************************************
'* Grant this control to the user or group specified earlier.
'*********************************************************************

ACE.Trustee = sUserOrGroup

'*********************************************************************
'* Now, add this ACE to the DACL on the machine account
'*********************************************************************

dACL.AddAce ACE
secDescriptor.DiscretionaryAcl = dACL

'*********************************************************************
'* Commit (write) the security changes to the machine account
'*********************************************************************

oComputer.Put "ntSecurityDescriptor", Array(secDescriptor)
oComputer.SetInfo

'*********************************************************************
'* Once all parameters and permissions have been set, enable the
'* account.
'*********************************************************************

oComputer.AccountDisabled = False
oComputer.SetInfo

'*********************************************************************
'* Create an Access Control Entry (ACE) that gives the specified user
'* or group full control on the machine account
'*********************************************************************

wscript.echo "The command completed successfully."

'*****************
'* End Script
'*****************

I may be specifying the incorrect "Downlevel Naming Convention" for
"Everyone". I have tried "BUILTIN\Everyone", "Everyone", and
"MYDOMAIN\Everyone", but nothing has worked yet. Anyone have any
Ideas?

TYIA
 
C

Cary Shultz [A.D. MVP]

Please see my 'reply' in your first post.

Cary

Greg K Wong said:
I am looking for input on how to create multiple computer
accounts in the Active Directory using VBScript. I have been
successful in creating the machine accounts, but I need to be able to
specify a GROUP that may join to the machine to the domain other than
the Domain Administrators. Specifically, when the accounts are
created I would like to enable "Everyone" to join the PC to the
domain.
The script below is directly from Microsoft. It seems to show
how to specify a user or group that can join the machine to a domain,
but I am having trouble getting this to work correctly.

'***********************
'* Start Script
'***********************

Dim sComputerName, sUserOrGroup, sPath, computerContainer, rootDSE,
lFlag
Dim secDescriptor, dACL, ACE, oComputer, sPwd

'*********************************************************************
'* Declare constants used in defining the default location for the
'* machine account, flags to identify the object as a machine account,
'* and security flags
'*********************************************************************

Const UF_WORKSTATION_TRUST_ACCOUNT = &H1000
Const UF_ACCOUNTDISABLE = &H2
Const UF_PASSWD_NOTREQD = &H20
Const ADS_GUID_COMPUTRS_CONTAINER = "aa312825768811d1aded00c04fd8d5cd"
Const ADS_ACETYPE_ACCESS_ALLOWED = 0
Const ADS_ACEFLAG_INHERIT_ACE = 2

'*********************************************************************
'* Set the flags on this object to identify it as a machine account
'* and determine the name. The name is used statically here, but may
'* be determined by a command line parameter or by using an InputBox
'*********************************************************************

lFlag = UF_WORKSTATION_TRUST_ACCOUNT Or UF_ACCOUNTDISABLE Or
UF_PASSWD_NOTREQD
sComputerName = "TestAccount"

'*********************************************************************
'* Establish a path to the container in the Active Directory where
'* the machine account will be created. In this example, this will
'* automatically locate a domain controller for the domain, read the
'* domain name, and bind to the default "Computers" container
'*********************************************************************

Set rootDSE = GetObject("LDAP://RootDSE")
sPath = "LDAP://<WKGUID=" & ADS_GUID_COMPUTRS_CONTAINER
sPath = sPath + ","
sPath = sPath + rootDSE.Get("defaultNamingContext")
sPath = sPath + ">"
Set computerContainer = GetObject(sPath)
sPath = "LDAP://" & computerContainer.Get("distinguishedName")
Set computerContainer = GetObject(sPath)

'*********************************************************************
'* Here, the computer account is created. Certain attributes must
'* have a value before calling .SetInfo to commit (write) the object
'* to the Active Directory
'*********************************************************************

Set oComputer = computerContainer.Create("computer", "CN=" &
sComputerName)
oComputer.Put "samAccountName", sComputerName + "$"
oComputer.Put "userAccountControl", lFlag
oComputer.SetInfo

'*********************************************************************
'* Establish a default password for the machine account
'*********************************************************************

sPwd = sComputerName & "$"
sPwd = LCase(sPwd)
oComputer.SetPassword sPwd

'*********************************************************************
'* Specify which user or group may activate/join this computer to the
'* domain. In this example, "MYDOMAIN" is the domain name and
'* "JoeSmith" is the account being given the permission. Note that
'* this is the downlevel naming convention used in this example.
'*********************************************************************

sUserOrGroup = "MYDOMAIN\joesmith"

'*********************************************************************
'* Bind to the Discretionary ACL on the newly created computer account
'* and create an Access Control Entry (ACE) that gives the specified
'* user or group full control on the machine account
'*********************************************************************

Set secDescriptor = oComputer.Get("ntSecurityDescriptor")
Set dACL = secDescriptor.DiscretionaryAcl
Set ACE = CreateObject("AccessControlEntry")

'*********************************************************************
'* An AccessMask of "-1" grants Full Control
'*********************************************************************

ACE.AccessMask = -1
ACE.AceType = ADS_ACETYPE_ACCESS_ALLOWED
ACE.AceFlags = ADS_ACEFLAG_INHERIT_ACE

'*********************************************************************
'* Grant this control to the user or group specified earlier.
'*********************************************************************

ACE.Trustee = sUserOrGroup

'*********************************************************************
'* Now, add this ACE to the DACL on the machine account
'*********************************************************************

dACL.AddAce ACE
secDescriptor.DiscretionaryAcl = dACL

'*********************************************************************
'* Commit (write) the security changes to the machine account
'*********************************************************************

oComputer.Put "ntSecurityDescriptor", Array(secDescriptor)
oComputer.SetInfo

'*********************************************************************
'* Once all parameters and permissions have been set, enable the
'* account.
'*********************************************************************

oComputer.AccountDisabled = False
oComputer.SetInfo

'*********************************************************************
'* Create an Access Control Entry (ACE) that gives the specified user
'* or group full control on the machine account
'*********************************************************************

wscript.echo "The command completed successfully."

'*****************
'* End Script
'*****************

I may be specifying the incorrect "Downlevel Naming Convention" for
"Everyone". I have tried "BUILTIN\Everyone", "Everyone", and
"MYDOMAIN\Everyone", but nothing has worked yet. Anyone have any
Ideas?

TYIA
 

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