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Domain vs Workgroup

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by douglasb

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I do some work in a small business office, 12 work stations + Windows 2000 server, where the former IT person setup the network as a Domain. Stupid question, but why would it be set up as a domain instead of a work group?

6 replies

by douglasb

Thanks for the link. Maybe I misunderstood the information, but if workstations are connected to a server, their files are stored there, they get internet access from the server and are organized into workgroups, network printers, etc, why the domain, especially in a small office. My read from the article is that it helps the administrator lock down the workstations so the users can't goof them up?

by bfilmfan

It is easier to assign permissions in a domain, than in a workgroup. In a workgroup, you have to have local acounts on every networked resource and a password for every resource.

In a domain, you only need one user account, placed into a security group. The security group is provided access to the resources. Domains simply provide an easier method to managing issues of password management and security control.

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