Lesson 7
Objective
Determine requirements for joining domain/workgroup.
Determine the requirements for joining a domain or a workgroup.
When you install Windows 2000 networking components, you will be prompted to join either a workgroup or a domain. You must provide the name of the workgroup or domain during the installation. A workgroup is a small group of networked computers that work together as peers, where centralized administration and a high level of security are not required. A domain is a logical grouping of networked computers that share a common security database for storing security information. Security and centralized administration are important elements of a Windows 2000 domain. The table below compares Workgroups and Domains.
When you install Windows 2000 networking components, you will be prompted to join either a workgroup or a domain. You must provide the name of the workgroup or domain during the installation. A workgroup is a small group of networked computers that work together as peers, where centralized administration and a high level of security are not required. A domain is a logical grouping of networked computers that share a common security database for storing security information. Security and centralized administration are important elements of a Windows 2000 domain. The table below compares Workgroups and Domains.
| Function | Workgroup | Domain |
| Basic computer services : Resource allocation, administration, and authentication | Performed by each computer | Centralized |
| Security | Each computer has its own local Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database. A user must have a user account on each computer which she or he accesses. | A common security database is shared by the domain. Security information is stored in the Active Directory > on domain controllers. Users with a domain account can access resources on any computer in the domain with a single user account. |
| Number of users | Ten or fewer computers, each running Windows 2000 server. Workgroups become more difficult to manage when there are more than ten computers. Windows 2000 Professional can have a maximum of ten concurrent connections. | Domains are scalable. They can easily support a small group of computers or up to several thousand computers. |
In a Windows 2000 domain, each Windows 2000 or NT computer in the domain has a computer account. When a computer joins a domain, the
appropriate user and computer account must exist, or the computer account can be created during installation by an authorized user. The
following SlideShow describes the requirements for joining a domain and workgroup.
Although a user with a valid domain user
account can log onto the domain from a Windows 95 or 98 machine, Windows 9x computers cannot be members of a domain.
Only Windows NT and Windows 2000 computers have computer accounts and are members of the domain.
Only Windows NT and Windows 2000 computers have computer accounts and are members of the domain.
Create Preinstallation CheckList
Now that you have prepared for installation, it's time to install Windows 2000. Determining Workgroup - Exercise
Click the Exercise button to apply your knowledge about preinstallation practices in a Problem Solver exercise.
Determining Workgroup - Exercise
Determining Workgroup - Exercise
