Question

Can a computer log into more than one domain? Not at one time.

Asked by: 257Roberts

I have a need to configure a computer to log into two different domains.  One domain is at one branch office and the other in another location.  He will have  a user account in Active Directory in both locations.  I'm thinking a computer can only be joined to one domain, but I found this post in EE, but there was never a post back if this was a good solution.  
"diggisaur:
A PC can only be a member of one domain.

However, as long as you have user accounts in both domains you can log onto either by specifiying the domain name with the login name.

So instead of just loginname in the login box it would be loginname@yourdomain.com"

Has someone had any experience with a similar situation?  Thank you


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Asked On
2008-12-24 at 08:29:03ID24008135
Tags

Windows Server 2003

,

Windows Vista Business

,

Windows XP Professional

,

Active Directory

Topics

Windows 2003 Server

,

Active Directory

,

Windows Vista

Participating Experts
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Comments
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Answers

 

by: MEISJWMPosted on 2008-12-24 at 08:31:52ID: 23240731

If a domain trust exists between the domains in question, a computer will list more than one available domain to login to.  Otherwise, I don't see how it's possible.

 

by: knightfoxPosted on 2008-12-24 at 08:32:48ID: 23240736

That is correct, you can login to more than one domain.  Is there a trust between the two domains?

/Fox

 

by: wmillerPosted on 2008-12-24 at 08:33:38ID: 23240743

You can use Virtual PC 2007 to create addtional Computers on a physical machine and have each virtual system assigned to a particular doamin to get to login and access that location.

Since the Virtual machinces can Share the Physical Medium on the Physical machine you can thus use it as the conduit to get data passed through among the two locations.

Wes

 

by: andrew_aj1Posted on 2008-12-24 at 08:34:03ID: 23240745

A computer can only be joined to one domain at a time. You can grant the user local admin right to be able to manually change the domain, but it may be more easy to just have a computer at each location for that user.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

 

by: tigermattPosted on 2008-12-24 at 08:35:23ID: 23240753


It is impossible for a computer to be connected (and have a user log in to) multiple domains unless a trust relationship exists between the domains (and the domains are in the same forest), or an inter-forest trust between the two forests where the domains reside. If that is the case, then in Windows XP as already mentioned, you can change the 'Log on to' to the appropriate domain where the user wishes to log into, or on Windows Vista, you must enter the username in the format DOMAINNAME\Username in the username box.

If there is no trust relationship between the domains (remember, a trust means you need connectivity between the domain controllers on each side of the domain/forest trust) then you CANNOT do this. The only way around it which is often used is to have the user log in locally to the machine, and then run two Virtual XP / Vista Machines in Virtual PC, one of each of these machines joined to each of the two Active Directory domains.

-tigermatt

 

by: 257RobertsPosted on 2008-12-25 at 08:05:24ID: 23243363

There is no trust relationship between the domains.  Just separate domains.  I want to thank you for your replies.  I might try the Virtual PC route, but just may set up a clunker machine for the mentioned user to use at one of the locations.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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