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        What Is Offline Domain Join?

Section(s): Active Directory
Published on Feb 18, 2010.
Last Modified on May 31, 2009.
Last Modified by Nirmal Sharma.
Rated 3.7 out of 5 based on 3 votes.

This article explains a new feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 called "Offline Domain Join". This article applies to Windows Server 2008 R2 only.

Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 computers can use the new feature called "Offline Domain Join". This process requires the Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. This step requires two steps: First the computer account is created or provisioned on the domain controller and the resulting information is stored in the metadata, and then this information is transferred to the joining computer. The workstation then performs the joining part without having the connectivity with the domain controller.

You need to use Djoin.exe on the domain controller to accomplish above. Please use Djoin.exe /? to see the syntaxes.

An example is given below:

Djoin.exe /provision /domain Name_Of_the_Domain_To_Be_Joined /machine Client_Computer_Name /savefile File_Name.txt

About Nirmal Sharma

Nirmal is a Microsoft MVP in Directory Services and working as a Technical Architect/Consultant. He has been involved in Microsoft Technologies since 1994 and followed the progression of Microsoft Operating Systems and software. He is specialized in Directory Services, Microsoft Clustering, SQL, MOM, Exchange and Citrix. In his spare time, he likes to help others and write "internal" technical articles, white papers and tips on various Microsoft technologies. You can contact him at nirmal_sharma@mvps.org.