Join computer to domain remotely

[Ian Miller]

Hi,

I'm planning the implementation of a brand new w2k3 active directory domain.

I have 200 existing workstations which I need to join to the domain, but
I don't want to visit every single one if I can help it. Are there any
tools I can use to join them to the domain from my own desk? I have
access to all the local administrator credentials, and they are all on
one physical subnet.

Thanks in advance,

Ian

 

[Richard Mueller [MVP]]

I'm planning the implementation of a brand new w2k3 active directory
domain.

I have 200 existing workstations which I need to join to the domain, but I
don't want to visit every single one if I can help it. Are there any tools
I can use to join them to the domain from my own desk? I have access to
all the local administrator credentials, and they are all on one physical
subnet.

I cannot find in the documentation if this can be done remotely. All
examples join the local computer to the domain. For example from the Script
Center:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/default.mspx?mfr=true

This documentations shows how to specify the OU the computer object should
be created in:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa392154.aspx

I have deployed scripts to remote computers and run them using WMI, but the
computers must be joined to the domain. If it can be done, you must connect
to each computer (with Administrator credentials), copy a script to the
computer, and run the script (and possibly force a reboot).

 

[Ian Miller]

I have deployed scripts to remote computers and run them using WMI, but the

computers must be joined to the domain. If it can be done, you must connect
to each computer (with Administrator credentials), copy a script to the
computer, and run the script (and possibly force a reboot).

Thanks. I'll give that a go. It seems very strange that there isn't a
simple tool to do this - I'm sure I'm not the first person to migrate
from a workgroup to a domain!

Ian

 

[Jorge de Almeida Pinto [MVP - DS]]

if I'm not mistaken you cannot execute just NETDOM to add computers to a
domain. I have never tried it, but you could try using PSEXEC with NETDOM
you do it remotely.
NETDOM takes care of the joining part, while PSEXEC takes care of the remote
part

--

Cheers,
(HOPEFULLY THIS INFORMATION HELPS YOU!)

# Jorge de Almeida Pinto # MVP Windows Server - Directory Services

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