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

ID: Q125856

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.


    4. 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



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. Click the Create Computer Account In Domain check box to select it.


  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, please see the following 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 NTSrvWkst
Version : WinNT:3.5,3.51,4.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: February 23, 1999
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