Vista domain join problem

JCB · External Since: Aug 31, 2006 Posts: 9

In the past I have successfully performed domain joins/disjoins over a PPTP
VPN connection for WinXP. I have been unsuccessful in joining a Vista
Ultimate machine to the same domain. I receive an error informing me that
the format of the domain name I am using is incorrect (the domain name is an
unregistered private one of the form: companyname.llc, reflecting the LLC
status of my company). I don't know if this is the source of the problem or
not, but I also cannot reach network shares either.

Even though I can establish the VPN connection from the Vista machine and
establish RDP connections to remote hosts, I cannot access network resources
via UNC paths - the error indicates the network path cannot be found - could
this underlying problem also be the reason I cannot join the machine to the
domain?

Is there some inherent security in the Vista OS that I need to configure to
permit the resolution of UNC paths and join the machine to the domain?

Thanks for any solutions you may offer.

J
--
JCB\1059

JCB · External Since: Aug 31, 2006 Posts: 9

Yes, I can ping the RRAS and any other remote host by name or FQDN; UNC paths
are not found, however.
--
JCB\1059

"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" wrote:

> Sound like name resolution issue. Can you ping the DC by using FQDN?
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "JCB" <JCB.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:0CB5CD74-516F-4F04-8962-E42341E8C596@microsoft.com...
> In the past I have successfully performed domain joins/disjoins over a PPTP
> VPN connection for WinXP. I have been unsuccessful in joining a Vista
> Ultimate machine to the same domain. I receive an error informing me that
> the format of the domain name I am using is incorrect (the domain name is an
> unregistered private one of the form: companyname.llc, reflecting the LLC
> status of my company). I don't know if this is the source of the problem or
> not, but I also cannot reach network shares either.
>
> Even though I can establish the VPN connection from the Vista machine and
> establish RDP connections to remote hosts, I cannot access network resources
> via UNC paths - the error indicates the network path cannot be found - could
> this underlying problem also be the reason I cannot join the machine to the
> domain?
>
> Is there some inherent security in the Vista OS that I need to configure to
> permit the resolution of UNC paths and join the machine to the domain?
>
> Thanks for any solutions you may offer.
>
> J
> --
> JCB\1059

Kerry Brown · External Since: Jun 12, 2006 Posts: 1622

"JCB" <JCB DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0CB5CD74-516F-4F04-8962-E42341E8C596@microsoft.com...
> In the past I have successfully performed domain joins/disjoins over a
> PPTP
> VPN connection for WinXP. I have been unsuccessful in joining a Vista
> Ultimate machine to the same domain. I receive an error informing me that
> the format of the domain name I am using is incorrect (the domain name is
> an
> unregistered private one of the form: companyname.llc, reflecting the LLC
> status of my company). I don't know if this is the source of the problem
> or
> not, but I also cannot reach network shares either.
>
> Even though I can establish the VPN connection from the Vista machine and
> establish RDP connections to remote hosts, I cannot access network
> resources
> via UNC paths - the error indicates the network path cannot be found -
> could
> this underlying problem also be the reason I cannot join the machine to
> the
> domain?
>
> Is there some inherent security in the Vista OS that I need to configure
> to
> permit the resolution of UNC paths and join the machine to the domain?
>
> Thanks for any solutions you may offer.
>

Do you have a WINS server in the domain? Is the VPN connection set to use a
DC on the domain for DNS and to use the WINS server for the domain? Is
NETBIOS enabled on the VPN connection? When trying to join the domain are
you using the NETBIOS name of the domain or the full name?

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca

JCB · External Since: Aug 31, 2006 Posts: 9

Kerry,

I do not have a WINS server in the domain; the VPN connection uses the
domain DNS server; Netbios is disabled on all adapters for all machines in
the domain; I used the FQDN (i.e., companyname.llc) and provided credentials
for a DomAdmin using name DeleteThis @companyname.llc, as well as companyname\name, and
name along with the password - in all cases the same error is received.

I checked to be certain the ISP DNS servers were not conflicting and they
weren't - to be sure I flushed the DNS cache before attempting the join, then
pinged the DC by name and IP; I also established an RDP session by name to
the DC, yet the domain join failed; lastly, I created the computer account in
AD computers/users rather than let it be created during the domain join
process. Nothing worked successfully.
--
JCB\1059

"Kerry Brown" wrote:

> Do you have a WINS server in the domain? Is the VPN connection set to use a
> DC on the domain for DNS and to use the WINS server for the domain? Is
> NETBIOS enabled on the VPN connection? When trying to join the domain are
> you using the NETBIOS name of the domain or the full name?
>
> --
> Kerry Brown
> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>
>

JCB · External Since: Aug 31, 2006 Posts: 9

THEY'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!

Kerry, because everything else I tried failed, I ended up enabling NetBIOS
over TCP/IP on the adapters for both the DC and the machine I was attempting
to join to the domain. The domian join was immediately successful AND UNC
paths could be reached. Once joined, I disabled NETBT and the UNC paths were
once again unreachable!

Why is it that MS has encouraged removing WINS/NetBIOS from our domain, and
now with the "latest and greatest" (sic) VISTA, it is again required!!!???

Give me a friggin' break!

Nevertheless, thank you for your suggestion to look at enabling NetBIOS on
my NICS so that I could join the domain; problem solved.

J
--

>
>
> Do you have a WINS server in the domain? Is the VPN connection set to use a
> DC on the domain for DNS and to use the WINS server for the domain? Is
> NETBIOS enabled on the VPN connection? When trying to join the domain are
> you using the NETBIOS name of the domain or the full name?
>
> --
> Kerry Brown
> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>
>

Kerry Brown · External Since: Jun 12, 2006 Posts: 1622

I don't know why this is but I've run into the problem even without using a
VPN. I recommend you setup a WINS server and enable NETBIOS. Many things
will work better, Exchange and joining the domain are two. Enabling WINS
uses very little resources and it cuts down on broadcast traffic. Despite
the "best practice" of disabling NETBIOS things just work better when it is
enabled.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca

"JCB" <JCB RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:19075B24-306F-48D0-9B74-44746D5315DE@microsoft.com...
> THEY'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!
>
> Kerry, because everything else I tried failed, I ended up enabling NetBIOS
> over TCP/IP on the adapters for both the DC and the machine I was
> attempting
> to join to the domain. The domian join was immediately successful AND UNC
> paths could be reached. Once joined, I disabled NETBT and the UNC paths
> were
> once again unreachable!
>
> Why is it that MS has encouraged removing WINS/NetBIOS from our domain,
> and
> now with the "latest and greatest" (sic) VISTA, it is again required!!!???
>
> Give me a friggin' break!
>
> Nevertheless, thank you for your suggestion to look at enabling NetBIOS on
> my NICS so that I could join the domain; problem solved.
>
> J
> --
>
>>
>>
>> Do you have a WINS server in the domain? Is the VPN connection set to use
>> a
>> DC on the domain for DNS and to use the WINS server for the domain? Is
>> NETBIOS enabled on the VPN connection? When trying to join the domain are
>> you using the NETBIOS name of the domain or the full name?
>>
>> --
>> Kerry Brown
>> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
>> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>>
>>

JCB · External Since: Aug 31, 2006 Posts: 9

Kerry,

I don't dispute what you are saying about WINS/NetBIOS with Exchange and the
domain join problem, but I have NEVER experienced this with WinXPSP1 or
SP2...so what has MS done which apparently requires NetBIOS in VISTA, and
more importantly, why???
--
JCB\1059

"Kerry Brown" wrote:

> I don't know why this is but I've run into the problem even without using a
> VPN. I recommend you setup a WINS server and enable NETBIOS. Many things
> will work better, Exchange and joining the domain are two. Enabling WINS
> uses very little resources and it cuts down on broadcast traffic. Despite
> the "best practice" of disabling NETBIOS things just work better when it is
> enabled.
>
> --
> Kerry Brown
> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>
>
> "JCB" <JCB.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:19075B24-306F-48D0-9B74-44746D5315DE@microsoft.com...
> > THEY'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!
> >
> > Kerry, because everything else I tried failed, I ended up enabling NetBIOS
> > over TCP/IP on the adapters for both the DC and the machine I was
> > attempting
> > to join to the domain. The domian join was immediately successful AND UNC
> > paths could be reached. Once joined, I disabled NETBT and the UNC paths
> > were
> > once again unreachable!
> >
> > Why is it that MS has encouraged removing WINS/NetBIOS from our domain,
> > and
> > now with the "latest and greatest" (sic) VISTA, it is again required!!!???
> >
> > Give me a friggin' break!
> >
> > Nevertheless, thank you for your suggestion to look at enabling NetBIOS on
> > my NICS so that I could join the domain; problem solved.
> >
> > J
> > --
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> Do you have a WINS server in the domain? Is the VPN connection set to use
> >> a
> >> DC on the domain for DNS and to use the WINS server for the domain? Is
> >> NETBIOS enabled on the VPN connection? When trying to join the domain are
> >> you using the NETBIOS name of the domain or the full name?
> >>
> >> --
> >> Kerry Brown
> >> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> >> http://www.vistahelp.ca
> >>
> >>
>
>

Kerry Brown · External Since: Jun 12, 2006 Posts: 1622

"JCB" <JCB RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8BB80F55-D9D1-42D0-B34E-FC698313B9D7@microsoft.com...
> Kerry,
>
> I don't dispute what you are saying about WINS/NetBIOS with Exchange and
> the
> domain join problem, but I have NEVER experienced this with WinXPSP1 or
> SP2...so what has MS done which apparently requires NetBIOS in VISTA, and
> more importantly, why???

I don't know what the difference is. I do know that even with XP the network
will work better with a WINS server and NETBIOS.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca