Windows 7 / Networking

How to Verify Requirements for Joining a Domain

To join or log on to a domain successfully, you must meet several different requirements. When troubleshooting a problem joining a domain, verify each of these requirements:

  • The client computer must be able to resolve the IP address for a domain controller In most enterprise networks, client computers receive an IP address assignment from a DHCP server, and the DHCP server provides addresses for AD DS- enabled DNS servers that can resolve the domain controller IP address. If another DNS server is configured, you should update the client computer's IP configuration to use an AD DS-enabled DNS server. If this is not possible, you can add two records to your existing DNS server that resolve to a domain controller's IP address:
    • The _ldap._tcp.dc._msdcs.DNSDomainName SRV resource record, which identifies the name of the domain controller that hosts the AD DS domain. DNSDomainName is the DNS name of the AD DS domain the computer is attempting to join.
    • A corresponding address (A) resource record that identifies the IP address for the domain controller listed in the _ldap._tcp.dc._msdcs.DNSDomainName SRV resource record.
  • The client computer must be able to exchange traffic with the domain controller on several different TCP and UDP ports These ports include:
    • TCP port 135 for RPC traffic
    • TCP port 389 and UDP port 389 for LDAP traffic
    • TCP port 636 for LDAP over SSL traffic
    • TCP port 3268 for LDAP Global Catalog (GC) traffic
    • TCP port 3269 for LDAP GC SSL traffic
    • TCP port 53 and UDP port 53 for DNS traffic
    • TCP port 88 and UDP port 88 for Kerberos traffic
    • TCP port 445 for SMB (also known as CIFS) traffic
    Note For information about determining whether specific ports are available, see the section titled "How to Troubleshoot Application Connectivity Problems" earlier in this tutorial. The easiest way to test for all of these ports at one time is to use Portqueryui. exe and the "Domains and Trusts" predefined service.
  • The administrator must have privileges to add a computer to a domain Administrators who add a computer to a domain must have the Add Workstations To Domain user right.
  • The computer must be running Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, or Windows 7 Ultimate Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, and Windows 7 Home Premium operating systems cannot join a domain.
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In this tutorial:

  1. Troubleshooting Network Issues
  2. Tools for Troubleshooting
  3. Table-1 Network Troubleshooting Tools
  4. Arp
  5. How to Identify a Problem with the ARP Cacher
  6. How to Clear the ARP Cache
  7. Event Viewer
  8. IPConfig
  9. Nblookup
  10. Nbtstat
  11. Net
  12. How to View Shared Folders on the Local Computer
  13. How to View Shared Folders on Another Computer
  14. Netstat
  15. Network Monitor
  16. Nslookup
  17. Verifying that the Default DNS Server Resolves Correctly
  18. Verifying that a Specific DNS Server Resolves Correctly
  19. Verifying Specific Types of Addresses
  20. Using TCP for DNS Lookups
  21. PathPing
  22. PathPing Output
  23. Routing Loops
  24. Performance Problems
  25. Possible Connectivity Issues
  26. No Connectivity Issues
  27. Performance Monitor
  28. Data Collector Sets
  29. Windows Resource Monitor
  30. Ping
  31. PortQry
  32. Identifying the TCP Port for a Service
  33. Windows 7 Testing Service Connectivity
  34. Determining Available Remote Management Protocols
  35. Why PortQry Is Great
  36. Route
  37. Task Manager
  38. TCPView
  39. Telnet Client
  40. Testing Service Connectivity
  41. Test TCP
  42. Windows Network Diagnostics
  43. The Process of Troubleshooting Network Problems
  44. How to Troubleshoot Network Connectivity Problems
  45. How to Troubleshoot Application Connectivity Problems
  46. Default Port Assignments for Common Services and Tasks
  47. How to Troubleshoot Name Resolution Problems
  48. How to Verify Connectivity to a DNS Server
  49. How to Use the Hosts File
  50. How to Troubleshoot Performance Problems and Intermittent Connectivity Issues
  51. How to Troubleshoot Joining or Logging on to a Domain
  52. How to Verify Requirements for Joining a Domain
  53. How to Troubleshoot Network Discovery
  54. How to Troubleshoot File and Printer Sharing
  55. How to Troubleshoot File and Printer Sharing from the Client
  56. How to Troubleshoot File and Printer Sharing from the Server
  57. How to Troubleshoot Wireless Networks
  58. Network Diagnostics
  59. How to Troubleshoot Firewall Problems