How to Change Domain Controller on Windows

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Things to Know Before Switch Domain Controller on Windows

Also Read:How to find the IP address of a domain using NSLookup command in Windows

How to Find Current Domain Controller

Step 1: Press theWindows key, typeCommand Prompt, and clickRun as administrator.

Step 2: Once in the Command Prompt, type the below command and hitEnter.

That’s it. The output will display the current domain controller, which you can use to switch on your client’s computer. If you want to know how to switch domain controller, continue reading.

How to Switch Domain Controller Command

Step 1: Press theWindows key, typeCommand Prompt, and clickRun as administrator.

Step 2: Once in the Command Prompt, type the below command and hitEnter.

That’s all there is to it. You have successfully switched the domain controller. Remember that the switch is not permanent, and restarting might result in a new domain controller being selected.

For whatever reason, if you want to set the domain controller via registry, continue reading.

How to Set Domain Controller via Registry

Step 1: Open theStart menu, typeRegistry Editor, and clickRun as administrator.

In the prompt, selectYes.

Step 2: In the top address bar, enter the mentioned address.

Note: You can manually navigate to the section too.

Step 3: Under the Parameters folder,right-click, selectNew, and chooseString Value.

Step 4: TypeSiteNamein the name field and hitEnter.

Step 5: In the Edit String pop-up, enter the domain controller name to which you want your system to connect. Example- DC1.mydomain.com

There you go. The domain controller has been set via Windows Registry. If you cannot set the domain controller via the Registry, read on to find out how to force clients to use a specific domain controller.

Also Read:How to safely clean Registry on Windows 10 and 11

How to Force Client to Use Specific Domain Controller

Step 1: Open theStart menu, typeRegistry Editor, and clickRun as administrator.

In the prompt, selectYes.

Step 2: In the top address bar, enter the mentioned address and hitEnter.

Note: You can manually navigate to the section too.

Step 3: Under the Parameters folder,right-click, selectNew, and chooseDWORD (32-bit) Value.

Step 4: TypeNodeTypein the name field.

Step 5: Double-click the new value, type4in the Value Data field, and pressOK.

Note: The value 4 in the Value Data field sets the network to broadcast before contacting name servers for resolution. If no WINS servers are configured (H-node/queries name resolution first, then broadcasts), the value 8 applies.

Step 6: Again,right-click, selectNew, and chooseDWORD (32-bit) Value.

Step 7: TypeEnableLMHOSTSin the name field.

Step 8: Double-click the new value, type1in the Value Data field, and pressOK.

Finally, reboot the system to implement the changes. And that’s it! The new domain controller will be set when the system boots up. In case of any difficulties, consult experienced IT professionals for better guidance.

If you have any queries, check out the FAQ section below.

FAQs on Switching Domain Controller On Windows

Yes, it’s common and recommended to have multiple domain controllers in a Windows domain for redundancy and fault tolerance. This helps ensure that domain services are available even if one domain controller fails.

Common issues include DNS misconfigurations, replication problems, incorrect time settings, and permission issues. It’s essential to monitor the process carefully and resolve any issues that may arise.

The next time you need to switch domain controllers on Windows, refer to this guide to ensure a smooth transition that meets your network’s specific needs.

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Last updated on 25 July, 2024

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