Cannot Add Windows Server 2012 as Member Server to Existing Domain

Question

We have an existing Windows Server 2003 domain and several other computers are on that network (i.e., we have Windows Server 2008 member servers, other Windows Server 2003 member servers, Windows 7 and XP workstations, and even a Windows 2000 Server member server). Everything has been working fine until this first Windows Server 2012 server.

We need to add this Windows Server 2012 server as a member server to our exist domain. We do not want it to be a domain controller, not even a backup domain controller - just another server on the network.

When we try to add it to the domain using the standard Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog from System Properties, it can never find the domain controller. We get the message "The specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted." Of course, the domain is online and all networking is fine, and we're using Administrator (domain and local Administrator user accounts), but ... nothing.

Is there some "trick" to adding a Windows Server 2012 server as a member server to an existing domain?

What else can I try?

Solution

We get the message "The specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted."

Check DNS. Rule #1 for all AD problems is "Check DNS." Rule #2 is "If it's not DNS, you're in trouble."

From the command prompt are you able to ping or do an nslookup of the FQDN of your AD domain? I'm betting you just have the 2012 server's DNS list misconfigured in the network adapter properties.

There's no "trick" to making 2012 a member server, troubleshoot this the same way that you would 2003 or 2008.

Comments

[joeqwerty]

Is the server configured to use your AD DNS servers for DNS?

[MDMarra]

"We do not want it to be a domain controller, not even a backup domain controller - just another server on the network." - There hasn't been backup domain controllers since the NT4 days. I know this isn't relevant to your question, but if you're working with AD, this is a major misunderstanding that can lead to headaches down the road. This Q&A should give you a solid overview of AD and how DCs interact with workstations and member servers.

[Admin]

i tried all the obvious options and disabling ip v6 worked for me on my vmware 2012 r2 server

[Massimo]

+1 for rules #1 and #2.

[MDMarra]

I can't take all of the credit. I said rule #1 in Server Fault Chat yesterday and @Zypher said rule #2 right after. :)

[Admin]

You really don't want to disable IPv6 unless you're absolutely sure removing it won't cause other problems.