How to build and reset a trust relationship from a command line

The information in this article provides a way to build a trust relationship between two domains from a command line. To do this, use the NETDOM command line utility that comes with the Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit Supplement 2.

CAUTION: The method described in this article has not been extensively tested in large installations. Microsoft cannot guarantee that modification of domains as recommended herein will accomplish the objective described in this article under all circumstances and in all configurations.

Suppose MYMASTERDOM is the name of the master domain (that is, the trusted domain) and MYRESOURCEDOM the name of the resource domain (the trusting domain) that will trust the master domain.

With NETDOM, you can build the trust relationship from the command line. To do this, perform the following steps:

1. On the master domain, use the following command to create a resource computer account (note that this command should appear on a single line):
   
   NETDOM /Domain:MYMASTERDOM RESOURCE MYRESOURCEDOM <trust password> /ADD
2. On the resource domain, use the following command to establish a trust with the master domain (note that this command should appear on a single line):
   
   NETDOM /Domain:MYRESOURCEDOM MASTER MYMASTERDOM <trust password> /TRUST

NETDOM can also build a trust relationship and complete the operations above all at once. If you have an administrator access to the resource domain, both of the following commands builds the trust relationship in one step (note that these commands should each appear on a single line):

NETDOM MASTER MYMASTERDOM <trust password> /TRUST

-or-

(If you need to enter an administrator account for the resource domain)

NETDOM /Domain:MYRESOURCEDOM /User:MYRESOURCEDOM\<administrator user> /Password:<administrator password> MASTER MYMASTERDOM <trust password> /TRUST

You can run the second command above from the master domain primary domain controller (PDC) or from any Windows NT computer as soon as you have an administrator access to the master domain.

For more information on the NETDOM command, refer to the Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit documentation.