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Server 2003 Questions

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by cbeshears

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I'm the new "IT Guy" at my work. I kinda fell into it after the "old guy" quit and moved away. I have a BS degree (web developing) but I'm not that familiar with sys admin stuff. I was wondering if somebody could help me with a few questions:

1) Our server is set up as a workgroup instead of a domain. I'm not sure why. What are the advantages of setting it up as a domain? Wouldn't this be beneficial? Are there things you can?t do in a workgroup that you can do with a domain?

2) Perhaps the reason our server isn't set up as a domain is because we don't own a "domain". In order to do this, do I need to register my domain with a name registrar?

3) In order to manage the client computers from the server, do I need XP Professional? I'm assuming this doesn't work the XP Home? (Don't laugh. We do have some client computers that run this. Yes, I know that's terrible!)

4) What about Vista? Will all versions work with Windows Server 2003? Can they be "managed" from the server?

Thanks for your help and forgiving me of my ignorance.

5 replies

by arch_eldeeb

1- (a) open Google.com (b)type in the search box" domain versus workgroup" without the quotes (c) press enter, you'll find what you want.

2-No, this is not the cause, the Active Directory DOMAIN is not the INTERNET Domain, they just LOOK like each other, just search google again.

3- You can't let windows xp home join a domain, they're limited to workgroup model.

4- vista can "work" with server2003 in a workgroup model, but to join a domain, it's only Vista Ultimate and Vista business.

by yzfdude11

The easy one first, you do not need to have a registered domain to have a "domain" in a windows network environment.

"A Windows Server domain or Windows NT Domain is a logical group of computers running versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system that share a central directory database." Stolen from Wikipedia, read more here. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Server_Domain )

The most common reason companies use a domain is to centralize security, and access control over the network. Windows Domain Controllers allow you to manage all users, computers and printers from one central location making administration easier.

Workgroups are decentralized, meaning each computer must provide it?s own access to resources and users.

There are a lot of things that domains can do that workgroups cannot, ie. You can publish network resources to the entire domain and control the resources at Machine/User/Group level. If you want to use Remote Installation Services you need a domain also.

Your company really should upgrade the Home versions as they are not allowed to join a domain, it maybe why your running workgroup instead of a domain.

From M$: ?Domain Join, Group Policy support, Windows Fax and Scan, Encrypting File System (EFS), Shadow Copy, Corporate Roaming, Offline Files and Folders, and Remote Desktop are available in Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate.?

So it?s best to pay a little more for the Vista Business, I doubt you need the Ultimate.

by reb00t

1. Workgroups are not recommended if your network has more than 10 machines.

2. Active Directory Domain and Internet Domains are completely different...

3. You can control client computers from the server once you create a domain. You can then add Group Policies to your domain once you add in computers to that domain. XP Home doesn't support network domains. Windows 2000 Pro, XP Pro, Vista Business, and Vista Ultimate only.

4. Vista will work with Windows 2003 and can be managed by it, but not fully. Windows 2008 (just came out) is the counterpart to "control" Vista entirely.

by cbeshears

Thanks everybody for heading me in the right direction.

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