Join a Computer to a Domain

For Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) to function, each computer that functions as a federation server must be joined to a domain. Federation server proxies may be joined to a domain, but this is not a requirement.

You do not have to join a Web server to a domain if the Web server is hosting claims-aware applications only.

Membership in Administrators, or equivalent, on the local computer is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups.

To join a computer to a domain

  1. On the Desktop, click the Start button, type Control Panel, and then press ENTER.

  2. Navigate to System and Security, and then click System.

  3. Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, click Change settings.

  4. Under the Computer Name tab, click Change.

  5. Under Member of, click Domain, type the name of the domain that you wish this computer to join, and then click OK.

  6. Click OK in the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, and then restart the computer.

To join a server to a domain

  1. On the Desktop, click the Start button, type Control Panel, and then press ENTER.

  2. Navigate to System and Security, and then click System.

  3. Under Related settings, click Rename this PC (advanced).

  4. Under the Computer Name tab, click Change.

  5. Under Member of, click Domain, type the name of the domain that you wish this server to join, and then click OK.

  6. Click OK in the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, and then restart the server.

Additional references

Checklist: Setting Up a Federation Server

Checklist: Setting Up a Federation Server Proxy