Join ESX 6.X host to domain from command line

If you want to quickly join an ESX host to a Windows domain, you can use putty or plink and SSH to the host and run the following command:

plink -ssh HOSTNAME_OR_IP_HERE /usr/lib/vmware/likewise/bin/domainjoin-cli join DOMAIN_NAME_HERE USERNAME_HERE

Once you hit enter, you will be prompted for your domain username credentials.

A few prerequisites:
1. The host must be able to resolve the domain
2. The user must have rights to join machines to the domain
3. All the AD ports must be open from the host to DC’s on the domain.