Problem: The user cannot log in to the Test Failover VM.

Cause: When a Test Failover VM is first started, Active Directory credentials cannot be used to log into the test VM. (Local user credentials may be used.) This is true for both RDP and VNC connections. This will also cause any services that depend on Active Directory credentials to fail to authenticate users.

Solution: The user can explicitly add domain support that a test VM will recognize. To use domain credentials with a test VM, do the following:

1. Add the host name axcient-test-vm to the Active Directory database.

2. Take the test VM out of the domain and then add it back into the domain. This step can be performed either before or after the test VM has started. Follow the steps for the appropriate version of Windows:

Windows 2003: 

1. Right-click on My Computer and select the Change… button.
2. Under the Member of check box, select the workgroup radio-button option, enter a name for the workgroup to join, and click OK. You might be asked to authenticate in order to proceed. Enter domain account credentials with authority to remove a host from a domain.
3. A welcome to the workgroup message appears. Click OK.
4. A message to reboot appears. Click OK but do not reboot
5. Again, select the Change… button.
6. Under the Member of check box, select the Domain radio-button option, enter the name of your domain, and click OK. The user might be asked to again authenticate in order to proceed. Enter domain account credentials with authority to add a host to a domain.
7. A welcome to the domain message appears. Click OK.
8. A message to reboot appears (again). Click OK and this time reboot.

Windows 2008:

1. Right-click on Computer and under the Computer name, domain and workgroup settings section, click Change Settings.
2. The System Properties window appears. Under the Computer name tab, click Change…
3. Under the Member of check box, select the Workgroup radio-button.
4. Enter a name for the workgroup to join and then click OK.
5. A message appears about knowing the administrator password in order to log in. Ensure that you have access to the local (non-domain) credentials, then click OK.
6. A welcome to the workgroup message appears. Click OK.
7. A message about restarting computer to apply changes appears. Click OK.
8. Click the Close button on the System Properties window.
9. A message about restarting computer to apply changes appears (again). Click Restart Later.
10.  Steps 1 – 3, but this time under the Member of check box, select the Domain (instead of Workgroup) radio-button.
11. a name for the workgroup to join and then click OK.
12. A Windows Security window appears. Enter a user name and password with domain administrator credentials, and then click OK.
13.  Steps 6 – 9, but this time click Restart Now (instead of Restart Later).
14. credentials can now be used to log into the Test VM. If domain credentials still do not work, reboot the test VM.