Hi, I'm finally upgrading my (small biz) network and I am wondering if I can just use a WorkGroup. Currently the network has a primary domain controller (PDC) and there are 11 computers on the network; 4 user workstations that log in locally, 1 PDC, 1 DNS and the remaining are internet support servers. These servers login under a domain account and mostly done for ease of securing file shares under one account. I'm upgrading the faster machines and server OSes to 2008, eliminating 3 server machines into 1. The primary need between machines is sharing of folders (directories). Is using a WORKGROUP sufficient? Hector Santos, http://www.santronics.com Via Wildcat! Live Exchange NNTP Gateway http://opensite.winserver.com

Hi Hector Santos I think having everything under a domain if you have the means to do so is the best option (please note this is my own personal opinion :] ), i'm basing my opinion on the advantages of doin so.. file sharing will be made easier with authentication and accountability and use of a file server and it wil all be easier to audit. Plus it might be a small biz network but i'm sure growth is part of your business continuity plan. There might be 4 user workstations now but if the biz grows to host 100 user workstations it would be great to have a domain available already. So IF YOU HAVE THE MEANS TO DO SO DO IT! :) tech-nique

Hi Hector Santos I think having everything under a domain if you have the means to do so is the best option (please note this is my own personal opinion :] ), i'm basing my opinion on the advantages of doin so.. file sharing will be made easier with authentication and accountability and use of a file server and it wil all be easier to audit. Plus it might be a small biz network but i'm sure growth is part of your business continuity plan. There might be 4 user workstations now but if the biz grows to host 100 user workstations it would be great to have a domain available already. So IF YOU HAVE THE MEANS TO DO SO DO IT! :) tech-nique Hi, thanks. If by "means" you mean, I have the PhD level knowkledge that one seems to need to get a "Microsoft Network" running in a mixed Micrsoft OS environment, I may not :) The current show stopper is trying to keep (at least in the short term) the current NT 4.0 PDC and trying to get the upgraded and new machines with Windows 2008, Windows 7 to join the network. For this, you need a PhD to figure out. :) But we are small enough (and I wear all the hats currently with basic network admin understanding) to maybe start a new AD based PDC. I am just not understanding why AD is so complex and am afraid to start that process and really screw things up. So I want to keep the NT 4.0 PDC as its own sole function around and get the other machines updated which was done but can't join the network. Its been 3-4 days now, work into the wee hours and at best I got was to "match" the Workgroup with the Domain name and that seems to do "something" but I have to individually authenticate each shared folder for shared network folders - a real PITA. Thanks again Hector Santos, http://www.santronics.com Via Wildcat! Live Exchange NNTP Gateway http://opensite.winserver.com