LAB 4a: Adding a Workstation or Computer to the Domain
Workstations and servers have accounts in the domain database. This account entry can be created during installation of a computer, or afterwards. The utility program Server Manager allows network administrators to create accounts for computers so that they can participate in a domain.

Using Server Manager to Create a Computer Account

1. Ensure the PDC is running
2. Reboot the BDC as NT Work-Station
   Start->Shutdown->Restart the Computer
3. On the PDC, run Server Manager
   Start->Programs->Administrative Tools->Server Manager
4. Choose Computer->Add To Domain

   

5. Specify the name of the computer you are adding
   [Hint: on the NT Workstation computer, try Start->Settings->Control Panel->Network->Identification ]
6. Click on the Add button to add the computer to the domain
7. Click on the Close button

   

8. You can see in the Server Manager Window that the computer has been added, yet is grayed out and you cannot select it or view its properties.

   Question: What does server manager display concerning the TYPE of workstation?

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   So far, you have created an account for the computer, but this is only half the story. In the accounts database for the domain, a machine entry has been created for the computer. This computer account will be used between the workstation and domain, so the other half of it needs completing. This means we need to add the computer to the domain [doing this at the workstation!].

   When we go to the workstation, and add it to the domain, the special machine account entry is copied into the registry of the workstation. This account is password encrypted and used by the PDC to communicate with the workstation. If at any time the workstation is completely re-installed, and you want to use the same name as before, you must delete the current entry of that workstation from the domain before reinstalling the workstation.

   Perform the following steps on the NT Workstation Computer

9. Start->Settings->Control Panel->Network->Identification
10. Click on the Change button
11. Enter the name of your domain
    Note: When installing a workstation, you can use the feature "Create a Computer Account in the Domain"; this requires an administrative account and password to be specified. You might be getting users to do this [which do not have administrative privilege], so as an administrator, you have already completed this on the PDC.
12. Click on the OK button
13. Click YES in response to the warning dialog
    Note: This workstation already belongs to another domain. Since we have changed the domain to which it belongs, any user accounts on that previous domain which were granted access to resources on this workstation have just been effectively removed.
14. You will now get a dialog message welcoming you to the new domain

    

15. After clicking on OK, you will be prompted to restart your computer. Do this now