[WEB4LIB] Switching from Workgroup to Domain

[Bobb Menk]

"Scott W. Sharpe" wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> Anyone out there ever switched a network from a workgroup to a domain.  As
> of entering this position, the network was already established as a
> workgroup consisting of about 15 workstations and 1 server (set up as a
> standalone server).  There is also a network printer attached to this
> network.  I would like to switch to a domain for several reasons I won't
> bother you with.  However, I'm a little curious whether or not it is
> possible to change the server (NT Server 4.0) from a standalone server to a
> PDC without having to completely reinstall the OS.  Anyone have any
> experience with this?    

The only way to change an NT server from standalone to domain controller
is to reinstall the OS and choose Primary Domain Controller when it asks
you what kind of server you want it to be. Once it's set up as a domain
controller, you can promote or demote it between primary and backup
controller however.


> Also, is this a tedious process for a network of 15
> wokstations (most of the running NT?)  If I understand the process at all,
> it seems as simple as configuring the server OS as a PDC, then switching
> each workstation to the specified domain name, and creating all the accounts
> on the server (as these are public access workstations, most users will use
> a common account such as the default guest account.)

That's it in a nutshell. However, when you change from just logging on
locally to logging on to the domain NT will create a new user profile -
even if you're using the same name, e.g. if the existing profile is
called PUBLIC the next one will be called PUBLIC.0 (or something close
to that - working from memory on this). This means you'll need to copy
the desktop & start menu settings from the first profile to the second
so that users will still have everything they need.

________________________________________________
Bobb Menk
Electronic Resources Librarian
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Library, S0-751
244 Wood Street
Lexington, MA  02420-9176 USA
 
email: bmenk at ll.mit.edu
Voice: (781) 981-5354       Fax: (781) 981-2877
________________________________________________