Join a Domain

Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to join a client computer to your domain in the Computer Management workspace of the SmartDeploy Console.

1. In the Computer Management workspace, select the target client computer and then click Command | Join Domain.
   

2. Select Local Network or Cloud Network for sending the command to the target client.
   
3. In the Join Domain window, complete the following: 
   1. In the New Domain Name box, enter a domain name.  
   2. In the Organizational Unit field, enter an OU if you wish.
       

      The OU field is optional. You may specify an OU, or you may leave this field blank. An OU must be specified in the Distinguished Name format. To locate this value for a specific OU, launch adsiedit.msc (see Microsoft KB) on your domain controller, browse to the OU you wish you use, and copy the exact value that appears in the Distinguished Name column.
      See the (truncated) example in the screenshot below.
      
      Do not specify the Active Directory default container, Computers. The container is the default destination for domain-joined computers in Active Directory, and it cannot be specified as as an OU during domain join.

      
      

       

   3. In the Username box, enter a domain user with appropriate permissions to perform the domain join.
   4. In the Password box, enter your password.
   5. Optional: Check the Allow User To Defer Command checkbox to give the user the opportunity to delay the Join Domain command. If you do not check this box, this command will cause an immediate reboot of the target computer.
   6. 
4. Click Finish to display the confirmation, then click OK to confirm.
   
   Note: In the All Computers workspace, hover your mouse cursor over the icon next to the computer to verify the status of the Join Domain command. You can also verify this status in Message History.