How to set Primary DNS Suffix on machine without a GPO

Question

_{Tuesday, April 9, 2019 5:44 PM}

I have machines I'm moving from one domain (OldDomain) to another (NewDomain).  In NewDomain, i have a GPO where Computer Config/Admin Templates/Network/DNS Client/Primary DNS suffix  is set to the suffix for NewDomain, but my problem is that with the tool I use to move them from OldDomain --> NewDomain, when they reboot into NewDomain, this GPO won't kick in until after they reboot a second time (since they just got the GPO after that first reboot, and that setting requires a reboot to kick in).   The problem this causes is that they cannot log in to their machine on NewDomain because of a trust relationship error until after that second reboot.

So my thought is, if i can set the primary DNS suffix on the machine via a command line right before the first reboot, they may be able to log in without the second reboot.  But I don't know what command line would do that on a Windows 10 machine.  Does anyone know?

All replies (5)

_{Wednesday, April 10, 2019 5:47 AM}

Hello RJO22,

Thank you for posting in this forum.

Go to Control Panel->All Control Panel Items->System->Change settings->Change->More. If you check " Change primary DNS suffix when domain membership changes ", the machine automatically changes its primary DNS suffix after successfully joining the new domain.

Best Regards,

Leon

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_{Wednesday, April 10, 2019 1:01 PM}

Thanks Leon.

Would you happen to know how I can set that via the registry, or some other way that i can do it remotely?

_{Thursday, April 11, 2019 9:26 AM}

Hello RJO22,

Have you checked this article: Primary DNS Suffix?

Since the web site is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Best Regards,

Leon

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_{Thursday, April 11, 2019 1:59 PM}

I did, but that key doesn't even exist on my machine, so figured the article was inaccurate.

_{Friday, April 12, 2019 9:39 AM}

Hello RJO22,

I am not very familiar with the registry, so I can't provide more registry-related methods.

I think the method given above is very simple. If you want to configure multiple machines like this, you can use scripts.

Best Regards,
Leon

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