Adding a Windows 10 computer (or any other PC running a Windows client operating system) to a domain means you are configuring it to receive the services that the Domain Controller of the domain offers. This also allows the computer to be managed remotely by the Systems Administrator. This network architecture is mostly practiced in the corporate environments.
In order to add a Windows 10 computer to a domain, the following pre-requisites must be met:
At Server Level
[listNum]■There must be at least one Domain Controller present in the network.
■There must be at least one DNS server present in the network.
■There should be one DHCP server present in the network (optional). (In case the Windows 10 computers are to be assigned the IP addresses dynamically.)
[/listNum]
At Configuration Level
[listNum]■The Domain Controller and the DNS server must have static IP address assigned to them. (Manual IP address assignment.)
■The Windows 10 computer can have dynamically assigned IP address (in case the DHCP server is present). If it isn’t, a static IP address must be assigned to the computer.
[/listNum]
At Connectivity Level
[listNum]■All the three computers, i.e. the Domain Controller, DNS server, and the Windows 10 computer must be connected to a network, and must be able to communicate with each other. You can test the connectivity and communication between the computers using the PING command.
At Credentials Level
■You must have administrative rights on the Windows 10 computer.
■You must have the credentials of either Domain Admin or Domain User.
[/listNum]
After all the above prerequisites are met, here’s how you can add your Windows 10 computer to a domain:
In order to add a Windows 10 computer to a domain, the following pre-requisites must be met:
At Server Level
[listNum]■There must be at least one Domain Controller present in the network.
■There must be at least one DNS server present in the network.
■There should be one DHCP server present in the network (optional). (In case the Windows 10 computers are to be assigned the IP addresses dynamically.)
[/listNum]
At Configuration Level
[listNum]■The Domain Controller and the DNS server must have static IP address assigned to them. (Manual IP address assignment.)
■The Windows 10 computer can have dynamically assigned IP address (in case the DHCP server is present). If it isn’t, a static IP address must be assigned to the computer.
[/listNum]
At Connectivity Level
[listNum]■All the three computers, i.e. the Domain Controller, DNS server, and the Windows 10 computer must be connected to a network, and must be able to communicate with each other. You can test the connectivity and communication between the computers using the PING command.
At Credentials Level
■You must have administrative rights on the Windows 10 computer.
■You must have the credentials of either Domain Admin or Domain User.
[/listNum]
After all the above prerequisites are met, here’s how you can add your Windows 10 computer to a domain:
- ■Use the administrator account to log on to the Windows 10 computer.
■Make sure that the computer is connect to the network, assigned with a static or dynamic IP address, and is able to communicate with both Domain Controller and DNS server.
■Once confirmed, click the Start button.
■Click Settings from the left pane of the Start menu.
■From the SETTINGS window, click Accounts.
■From the left pane of the ACCOUNTS window, click to select the Work access category.
■From the right pane, from under the Related settings section, click Join or leave a domain.
■On the Join a domain box, in the Domain name field, type the name of the domain you want Windows 10 to add to.
■Click Next to continue.
■When prompted, provide the username and password for the Domain Admin or Domain User account and proceed to the next step.
■Once the computer is added to the domain, restart the PC and re-login with the Domain User or Domain Admin account as needed to start using the computer.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram