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Netdom is a command-line tool that is built into Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. It is available if you have the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) server role installed. It is also available if you install the Active Directory Domain Services Tools that are part of the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT).
To use netdom, you must run the netdom command from an elevated command prompt. To open an elevated command prompt, click Start, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.
You can use netdom to:
Join a computer that runs Windows XP Professional, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 to a Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, or Windows NT 4.0 domain.
Provide an option to specify the organizational unit (OU) for the computer account.
Generate a random computer password for an initial Join operation.
Netdom is used in versions of Windows before Windows 7 for command-line domain membership tasks such as joining a computer to a domain. Windows 7 and later instead provides the PowerShell cmdlet Add-Computer, which allows you to add a computer to a domain or workgroup:
1. Click start button, type in Powershell but DO NOT press Enter yet. 2. In the list above, under "Programs" right-click on Powershell that appears above and choose "Run as Administrator" and click "Continue".
3. The syntax for the command is:
Add-Computer <domain name> (to remove a computer use 'remove-computer' command
The cmdlet allows far more complex execution than Netdom. You can use items such as the organizational unit location of the computer account, credentials, and computer name in the command. Run the command Get-Help Add-Computer for all the syntax options.
