How to join Windows 2008 Server Core Computer to Active Directory Domain using netdom command

Before joining the Windows 2003 Server Core computer to an Active Directory Domain, we may need to change the default computer name generated by Windows 2008 Server setup. To change the default computer name for a Windows 2003 Server Core computer generated by Windows 2008 Server setup, use the foloowing command.

C:\>netdom renamecomputer %computername% /NewName:SCORE-01

The above command will prompt you to confirm name change, type "y" and press "Enter" to confirm. The name change will effect after a reboot. Confirm the name change by running hostname command after the reboot.

C:\>hostname
SCORE-01

After the name change, check whether the TCP/IP settings are configured correctly. Run ipconfig /all command to check this. Confirm the DNS Server IP address is configured correctly in TCP/IP settings of Windows 2003 Server Core computer.

C:\>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : SCORE-01
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-29-B3-FC-8D
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::e4b7:3600:b305:af9e%2(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.100.21(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.100.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.100.12
192.168.100.13
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{ACD62FB3-E6A9-4BC0-84EA-6957B4B9E
47A}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

To join Windows 2003 Server Core computer to Active Directory domain, again run netdom command as shown below. You must provide the password of the administrator to join the Windows 2003 Server Core computer to Active Directory. The "*" after "passwordd" switch will prompt the user to enter the password from command prompt.

C:\>netdom join SCORE-01 /domain:omnisecu.pvt /userd:Administrator /passwordd:*
Type the password associated with the domain user:

The computer needs to be restarted in order to complete the operation.

The command completed successfully.

After a reboot, the Windows 2003 Server Core computer will be a member of Active Directory Domain.

To remove the Windows 2003 Server Core computer from Active Directory Domain issue the following command. You must provide the password of the administrator to remove the Windows 2003 Server Core computer from Active Directory. The "*" after "passwordd" switch will prompt the user to enter the password from command prompt.

C:\>netdom remove score-01 /domain:omnisecu.pvt /userd:administrator /passwordd:*
Type the password associated with the domain user:

The computer needs to be restarted in order to complete the operation.

The command completed successfully.

After a reboot, the Windows 2003 Server Core computer will be removed from Active Directory Domain.