Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a new utility named Djoin.exe that lets you join a computer to a domain without contacting a domain controller during the domain join operation. The computer is domain-joined when it first starts, so no restart is needed as with a normal domain join. The general steps for using djoin.exe are:
- Run djoin /provision to create the computer account metadata.
- Run djoin /requestODJ to insert the computer account metadata into the Windows directory of the destination computer.
- Start the destination computer, and the computer will be joined to the domain.
The computer where you run djoin /provision and the destination computer both need to run Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7. We have a step-by-step guide published at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd392267(WS.10).aspx and appreciate any feedback you have.