I'm looking for a way to add a list of new computer names to Active Directory (AD) without joining them to the domain just yet. I usually get a monthly list of 30-60 new stations, and while I'm familiar with using the AD interface, it tends to be slow for this task. I want to use a PowerShell script that reads from a text file containing the computer names. I came across the Add-Computer cmdlet but it seems to be aimed at joining computers to the domain, which I don't want to do now. Is there a way to pre-stage these computers in AD for later joining?
1 Answer
You might want to consider using solutions like MDT or Intune for better management. Pre-creating AD computer accounts isn't a common practice; most just join them during setup. Can you share why you're going this route?
I've worked in plenty of environments where computers were only joined manually when they were needed. Automated setup tools are great, but sometimes managing AD directly makes sense. It depends on your specific needs!