stevek65
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Domain network vs Workgroup network
our school has approx 85 staff computers in a workgroup, 20 lab computers that are on a domain for active directory. I was told that over ten computers you should use a domain. Can anyone tell me why i should use a domain? what are the pros and cons of each.
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... if you are going to copy chunks from http://www.velocityreviews.com/forums/t197956-domain-or-workgroup.html then it should be acknowledged :-)
ASKER
If we use a domain setup, where are the user files located? Can the user login to the local machine and use the files an applications on the local machine or does everything come from the domain. Doesn't the user have to login to the domain to use the same securities as the domain? I guess I don't understand that if they belong to the domain but login to the local machine how they are using the securities as the domain.
On a domain the user accounts are loated on the server (in active directory). The applicationa are normally installed on the locl machine. The user will log on to the domain uaing their domain account, but they can still run applications from the local machine.
The users files can be located on the local machine, or they can be stored on the server. Stoting files on the server means that you can back-up the files easier and of course users can share files easier and access their own files no matter which machine they log on at.
At the same time the domain lets you manage security from a single point.
The users files can be located on the local machine, or they can be stored on the server. Stoting files on the server means that you can back-up the files easier and of course users can share files easier and access their own files no matter which machine they log on at.
At the same time the domain lets you manage security from a single point.
ASKER
So, if you login to the domain, but the applications and data files are on the local machine, what is the advantage of a domain???
You get the most benefit of course is uses store their data on the server and you can decide who has what permissions on which files and folders. You can centrally manage you users, computers and software. You can set up policies on the domain which are then implimented on all workstations. Users can log on to any machine in the domain (subject to restrictions that you can decide to impose) and unlike in a workgroup, if they change the password, then its a universal change.
ASKER
So, it's pretty much like roaming profiles. If the user stores their files on the local machine and use the applications that are installed on the local machine, what is the real benefit? I must be missing something.
You are missing a lot - an awful lot. As I said its really all about being able to centrally mange your systems, provide managed services and control secuiity in a structured and systematic way thats just not possible with a workgroup.
its a "no brianer". Yes 10 concurrent connections are all that are permitted on a workgroup so you don't really have much choice!
If you have a domain then you can manage all users and computers centrally - you will not have the problem of the same user having different logon names/passwords on different machines -admin generally is much easier as its all in one place.
Security is tighter and you can enforce policies and settings with Group Policies, deploy software, control software deployment and use etc...