KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q125856: How to Join a Domain from a Windows NT Workstation Using RAS

Article: Q125856
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 3.5,3.51,4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbnetwork
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

This article describes how to use the Remote Access Service (RAS) as your
network connection when logging on to a Windows NT domain. This may be necessary
if you do not have access to a Wide Area Network (WAN), but you are able to dial
and connect to a remote network through RAS. The following topics are
discussed:

- How to join a remote domain using RAS

- Creating an account for your RAS client computer on a remote domain

- Connecting to a network using RAS to create a domain list

When you create an account for your RAS client computer on a remote domain, you
can be validated by a domain controller on the remote network. This gives you
access to domain resources using the same account you use when you are connected
directly to the network.

MORE INFORMATION
================

How to Join a Remote Domain Using RAS
-------------------------------------

To join a remote domain using RAS, follow these steps:

1. Verify that your Windows NT-based computer is configured as a member of a
  workgroup and not a domain.

2. In Control Panel, double-click Network.

3. Click Add Software, and then install RAS.

NOTE: The next step requires dial-in permissions for your account.

4. Use RAS to connect to a RAS server on the remote domain.

NOTE: When a RAS client tries to connect to a resource on a Windows NT
Workstation-based computer acting as a RAS server, you may receive the following
error message:

  The logon server could not be found.

To work around this issue, configure your workstation to be a member of a
workgroup with the same name as the domain name.

Creating an Account for Your RAS Client Computer on a Remote Domain
-------------------------------------------------------------------

It may be necessary to configure an Lmhosts file on the RAS client to enable it
to locate the domain controllers if you are utilizing the TCP/IP protocol. You
must have the following entries:

  a.b.c.d <PDC name> #PRE #DOM:<domain name>
  a.b.c.d "domainname \0x1B" #PRE

where a.b.c.d is the IP address of the Primary Domain Controller (PDC), <PDC
name> is the NetBIOS name of the PDC, domainname is the NT Domain name, and
there exist a total of 15 characters between the opening quotes and the
backslash. (for example "<15 char.>\0x1B")

To create an account for your RAS client computer on a remote domain, follow
these steps:

1. In Control Panel, double-click Network.

2. Click Change, click Domain, and then type the name of the remote domain you
  want to join in the Domain box.

3. Select the "Create Computer Account In Domain" check box.

4. Type the name of a user account (with administrative privileges in the domain
  you are joining) in the User Name box, and then type the password for that
  account in the Password box.

5. Click OK. If this procedure is successful, the following message appears:

  Welcome to the <domain name> domain

6. Restart your computer.

Connecting to a Network Using RAS to Create a Domain List
---------------------------------------------------------

To connect to a network using RAS to create a domain list, follow these steps:

1. Log on to your Windows NT-based computer using a local user account.

2. Use RAS to connect to a RAS server on the remote domain.

3. Click Logoff on the Program Manager File menu. Note that your RAS connection
  is maintained when you do this.

  NOTE: For Windows NT version 4.0 you will need to set the KeepRASConnections
  registry key to keep the RAS connection open when you logoff.

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q158909 How to Keep RAS Connections Active After Logging Off

4. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then log on. The domain list is created through
  the RAS link.

5. Log on to the remote domain.

NOTE: After you have logged on to the remote domain once, your domain credentials
are cached locally. Therefore, you do not have to repeat step 5 when you log
onto the remote domain again.

Additional query words: prodnt applet off machine

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbnetwork 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search
Version           : :3.5,3.51,4.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.