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Tech Tips / Windows NT / Users and Groups

Joining a domain

Need a way to join the domain from the command line? Just use NETDOM, from the Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit Supplement 2.

This utility can be used to add NT workstations or stand-alone servers to your domain. It will also create the computer account—if one doesn't already exist—if you use the command with administrator credentials. The syntax, run on one line, is as follows:

  NETDOM /Domain:Domain1 /user:administrator /password:adminpassword
  MEMBER computer1 /JOINDOMAIN

where "administrator" is the account name and "adminpassword" is the password for the account. So what does this command accomplish? It adds Computer1 to Domain1 by specifying the administrator credentials with the administrator account.

If you simply want to create a computer account but won't add the workstation to the domain until later, use the following syntax:

  NETDOM /Domain:Domain1 /user:administrator /password:adminpassword
  MEMBER computer1 /ADD

More information about NETDOM is available in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q150493.