08 - Windows Server 2022 Join Server to Existing Domain Controller (Video Tutorial in Khmer)

Hello my friend! Today I show you step-by-step how to Join a Secondary Server to an Existing Active Directory Domain in Windows Server 2022! Joining member servers to domain allows centralized management, single sign-on with domain admin credentials, and easy deployment of server roles like File Server or Member Server! Very easy to follow with video tutorial in Khmer! Let's get started!

Step 1: Set Preferred DNS IP to Existing Domain Controller

Before joining domain, member server MUST point Preferred DNS server directly to existing primary Domain Controller IP address!

1. Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl and press Enter to open Network Connections.
2. Right-click your network adapter > select Properties.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > click Properties.
4. Set static IP configuration:
   • IP address: 192.168.1.20 (Member Server IP)
   • Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
   • Default gateway: 192.168.1.1
   • Preferred DNS server: 192.168.1.10 (Enter your Primary DC IP address!).

💡 Tip: This is #1 most common mistake! If Preferred DNS points to public IP like 8.8.8.8 or home router, server CANNOT query Active Directory SRV DNS records and domain join will FAIL!

Step 2: Test Network & DNS Connectivity to Domain Controller

Open Command Prompt (cmd) on your member server and test pinging Domain Controller IP and domain name:

# Ping Primary Domain Controller IP address
ping 192.168.1.10

# Ping Active Directory domain name
ping rean.local

💡 Tip: If ping rean.local resolves IP address 192.168.1.10 successfully, your DNS configuration is 100% ready for domain join!

Step 3: Join Member Server to Active Directory Domain

1. Open Server Manager window.
2. On left sidebar, click Local Server.
3. Click hyperlink next to Computer name (or press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl and press Enter).
4. On Computer Name tab, click Change... button.
5. Under Member of, select radio button Domain.
6. Type your domain name (example: rean.local or company.local) > click OK.
7. Pop-up credential prompt will ask for domain admin user:
   • Username: REAN\Administrator (or user account with domain join privileges)
   • Password: YourDomainAdminPassword
8. Click OK! You will see welcome popup: Welcome to the rean.local domain!

💡 Tip: Rename computer to a standardized server name (like SRV-FILE-01 or SRV-APP-02) BEFORE joining domain! Changing computer name after domain join requires extra reboots.

Step 4: Restart Member Server

1. Click OK on welcome dialog box.
2. Click Close on System Properties window.
3. Click Restart Now button to finish joining server to domain!

Step 5: Log in with Domain Administrator Account

After server reboots finish:

1. On Windows login screen, click Other user at bottom left.
2. Log in using domain credentials format:
   • User: REAN\Administrator or administrator@rean.local
   • Password: YourDomainAdminPassword
3. Open Server Manager > click Local Server > verify Domain field shows: rean.local!

💡 Tip: If you want to manage this server remotely from primary DC, make sure Remote Management is enabled in Server Manager!

Watch Video Tutorial (Khmer)

Watch full step-by-step video tutorial below to see how to join server to existing domain controller in Khmer:

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Hope this tutorial help you join secondary server to domain easily! Practice joining member servers to your domain today. Happy learning my friends! Sharing is caring!