Joining the domain

Before joining the server to a domain, evaluate the role of your server. If your server is going to be a DC then there is no need for it to join a domain, as adding the AD DS role will automatically make your server a domain controller. Otherwise, if your server is going to have a role other than AD DS, then as a domain member it must join the domain as in Figure 3.23.

To do so, complete the following steps:

1. In the Properties section, click the highlighted Workgroup.
2. In the System Properties window, click the Change button.
3. In the Computer Name/Domain Changes window, select the Domain option and click the text box to provide your organization's domain. Then click OK:

Figure 3.23. Joining a server to a domain

1. In the Windows Security window, enter the name and password of an account with a permission to join the domain. Then click OK.
2. The Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box welcomes your server to your organization’s domain. Click OK to close it.
3. Click OK to confirm that you will restart your server to apply these changes.

1. In the System Properties window, click the Close button.
2. In the Microsoft Windows dialog box, click Restart Now.