Indeed it has been sometime since my last post, and now that I have a little reprieve from my busy work schedule - I thought why not write an article about my favorite subject: the great ThinPro linux based thin client device from HP. In this article I demonstrate how to join your device to a Microsoft Active Directory domain.
Joining the device to Active Directory
You will have to switch your ThinPro device into admin mode. You can then open the Control Panel by clicking on the bottom left hand Start icon and selecting Control Panel. Click on the Manageability option.
The Active Directory blade is at the top of the list. Enter in the Domain Name and select the Join the thin client to domain option. If desired you can expand Advanced options and specify an OU to join - in this case I chose to leave this blank.
Click on Apply. An information splash appears advising of a system reboot requirement.
Click on OK. You are prompted to enter in your domain join credentials.
Click on OK. The domain join process begins.
After about 30 seconds you are presented with a message and a requirement to reboot.
Click on OK to reboot the device.
You can now go into Active Directory Users and Computers and verify that your ThinPro device is now a member of your Active Directory. In this case the ThinPro has been added to the Computers OU.
The Login experience for an AD joined ThinPro Device.
Now that the ThinPro device is a member of your domain, it does not just load straight into the desktop. You are now required to enter in your AD credentials at startup.
Conclusion
The ThinPro device is a very secure solution. Using the AD join feature will add an extra layer of security to your user's experience. In addition, support staff will now be able to switch the device into Admin mode using an Active Directory administrator account and password, thus a single root administrator password does not need to be disseminated to multiple administrators. I hope you have enjoyed this little post, and I wish you the same success in joining your ThinPro device to your Active Directory Domain.
