Joining a NT4 Client to a Windows 2000 Domain

[Andy]

My head office has a Windows 2003 server running with 60
NT4 clients running happily.

I have an office at another physical location which is
connected by a 1MB WAN link. This site has a secondary
domain controller to the same domain as the head office.

If I add a windows 2000 or xp client to the domain at the
remote site they work fine, but the Windows NT4(sp 6a)
client will not join the domain, saying 'cannot find a
domain controller'.

The NT4 clients have no TCP/IP or dns lookup problems.

Is this something to do with the PDC emulator and what
can I do?

 

[Todd Maxey [MSFT]]

Andy,

If we can't find the PDC emulator we can't join. NT4 is a NetBIOS creature
and needs NetBIOS name resolution in the form of WINS or a LMHOST file.

Hope this helps.

 

[Walter Schulz]

If I add a windows 2000 or xp client to the domain at the

remote site they work fine, but the Windows NT4(sp 6a)
client will not join the domain, saying 'cannot find a
domain controller'.

Sounds like WINS is not configured.

Ciao, Walter

 

[John]

Upgrade clients!

 

[Andy]

Is it not possible to get the NT4 client at the remote
site to login into the local dc, or can it only log into
the pdc emulator dc at head office.

The reason I ask is because I did not want to have to
rely on a WAN link for domain authentication.

 

[Walter Schulz]

Is it not possible to get the NT4 client at the remote
site to login into the local dc, or can it only log into
the pdc emulator dc at head office.

NT 4.0 client in AD works the same old way as in an "old" domain.
Any DC is able to authentificate downlevel clients and NT isn't aware
of WAN, sites etc.

The reason I ask is because I did not want to have to
rely on a WAN link for domain authentication.

What's the difference between the situation before migration and now?
You may be able to fake the NT clients by manipulating WINS. Or you
may have to use LMHOSTS for different WAN locations. (The chapter is
named "Hell revisited").

It's high time to prepare client update ...

Sorry, but haven't you made any plans and tests *before* migration?

Ciao, Walter