You can run vicfg-authconfig to add the ESXi host to the Active Directory domain. You can run the command directly against the host or against a vCenter Server system, specifying the host with --vihost.

Prerequisites
■

Verify that you have installed the ESXi host, as explained in the vSphere Installation and Setup documentation.

■

Verify that you have installed Windows Active Directory on a Windows Server that runs Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Server 2008. See the Microsoft Web site for instructions and best practices.

■

Verify that you have the appropriate Active Directory permissions and administrative privileges on the ESXi host.

■

Verify that time between the ESXi system and Windows Active Directory is synchronized.

Procedure
1

Test that the Windows Active Directory Server can ping the ESXi host by using the host name. 

ping <ESX_hostname>
2

Run vicfg-authconfig to add the host to the Active Directory domain. 

vicfg-authconfig --server=<ESXi Server IP Address>
   --username=<ESXi Server Admin Username>
   --password=<ESXi Server Admin User's Password>
   --authscheme AD --joindomain <AD Domain Name>
   --adusername=<Active Directory Administrator User Name>
   --adpassword=<Active Directory Administrator User's Password>

The system prompts for user names and passwords if you do not specify them on the command line. Passwords are not echoed to the screen.

3

Check that a Successfully Joined <Domain Name> message appears.

4

Verify the ESXi host is in the intended Windows Active Directory domain. 

vicfg-authconfig --server XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX --authscheme AD -c

You are prompted for a user name and password for the ESXi system.