Hello Jerry, I would like to add one point I struggled regarding this error message: Using short domain name -- NELNET Failed to set servicePrincipalNames. Please ensure that the DNS domain of this server matches the AD domain, Or rejoin with using Domain Admin credentials. Disabled account for 'NELNET' in realm 'NELNET.DE' But anything looked correct, e.g. "hostname" echoed the FQDN of samba host (vdr.nelnet.de) and "ping" from Win2003 echoed the FQDN of samba host. The error was in /etc/hosts, which was automatically created by Debian (I do not know the version, because there was a lot of upgrades since first installation). It contained a line 192.168.0.4 vdr Changeing it to 192.168.0.4 vdr.nelnet.de vdr solved the issue. Best reagards Hinrich ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Hinrich Eilts Com MN PG R S C 3 Systems Engineering Mobile Radio Phone: +49.89.636-76575 Fax: +49.89.636-76587 E-Mail: Hinrich.Eilts@siemens.com Snail-Mail: Siemens AG St.-Martin-Str. 76 81541 M?nchen Germany