Connect to a domain controller

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To connect to a domain controller

  1. Open Active Directory Sites and Services.

  2. Right-click Active Directory Sites and Services, and then click Connect to Domain Controller.

  3. In Domain, type a domain name, or click Browse to select from the list of available domains.

  4. In Enter the name of another domain controller, click a domain controller from the list of available domain controllers, or accept the default value Any Writable Domain Controller to have a domain controller automatically selected.

Notes

  • Performing this task does not require you to have administrative credentials. Therefore, as a security best practice, consider performing this task as a user without administrative credentials.

  • To open Active Directory Sites and Services, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Active Directory Sites and Services.

  • Active Directory Sites and Services views and configures a single copy of the directory data. Change the domain controller to select an alternate domain controller whose directory data will read and modify.

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.

See Also

Concepts

Domain controllers
Domains