How to create a network domain! (for windows)

A network domain is a much more secure and much easier to manage. Unlike a workgroup, all the user accounts are made on the domain server (which will be your windows 2k server or windows server 2008 or 2003). However, there are some downsides to it also. Unlike the domains you might see in real company's, these ones you can login to on any computer connected to the domain but each user has to configure it on each machine unless set up to save the users settings on each computer. If it is just a two computer domain, (one the domain controller [server] and one the other one that connects to the domain) then you can just connect them using a CAT 5 computer cable (an ethernet cord, and no needing a network switch.) If you want to put more then 1 computer on the domain, you will need a network switch. They can be bought at a very cheap price at almost any electronlics store. Also, unlike a workgroup, on a domain, each user MUST have a password.

You can probably buy a very cheap copy of windows 2000 server at a used computer store that carries old copies of Windows. (ex. in the Ottawa, ON region, the trailing edge is a great choise. Located behind Winners on Robertson rd.) If you don't want Windows 2000 server as the domain controller, you can buy windows server 2003 or 2008. The steps for setting this up will still be the same. Ok.... now let's get onto making that domain!

First, install Windows 2000 server, Windows server 2003 or Windows server 2008 on one computer. Now, login as an administrator. Go to the start menu and click run. (for Windows server 2008, just type this in the search box) Now type DCPROMO and run it. Go through all the steps to creating a domain. Make sure that you select a new domain tree and a new domain forest. Also type the name of the domain when it comes time. It can be anything you want... even cheese! Now, after restarting your computer after finishing that setup, login as an administrator again. Now you can add the users. (NOTE THAT ALL THE USERS ON THE DOMAIN WILL CONNECT TO THE INTERNET THROUGH THE DOMAIN SO MAKE SURE THE INTERNET IS CONNECTED TO THE DOMAIN) To add the users, click start, go to programs (or all programs), go to administrative tools and click Active Directory Users and Computers. On the left side, click your domain. Click users. Next, near the top, click Action. Go to new and click user. Configure the user. (FOR THE USER LOGON NAME, FOR EXAMPLE, IF I TYPE CHEESE IN THAT BOX, MY USERNAME WILL BE CHEESE. NOT CHEESE@CHEESE (or what ever your domain name is)) After your making the users, switch to the other windows machine. This machine may be any version you want... even windows 1.0 but I think that's a little outdated(Even if you were running Windows 1.0, it would be extremely hard to join the domain).

So, go to your other machine(s). Windows XP/VISTA USERS: Click start, right click my computer and click properties. OTHER: Go to the desktop and right click my computer and click properties. Click computer name. Click change. Now, make sure the domain circle has another circle in it (if it doesn't click the circle) and type the name of your domain in the domain box. For example, if it was called cheese, i'll type cheese and click ok. Now, an autherization box will come up asking you for a username and password. Type administrator in the username box and type the password of the network administrator that you made on the server computer in DCPROMO. Click ok. Now when you are promped to restart your computer, click restart now. In the login screen, it will say logon to: YOURCOMPUTERNAME (this computer). Open the dropdown box and select your domain.CHEESE in my case. Login with one of the user accounts that you setup on the domain controller. If the first time it says "Cannot connect to CHEESE" then just restart your computer, sometimes this happens the first time.

If you are choosing to make a domain that has internet, then you need to connect the internet either to the Network Switch or the domain host (the server). If connecting to the domain host:2003/2008 SERVER: Click start, control pannel. Classic view: Open network connections. Right click your internet connection, go to the sharing tab and select share this connection and click ok. Category view: Go to network and internet connections, click network connections. Right click your internet connection and go to the sharing tab. Select share this connection and click ok. Windows 2000 server: Click start, settings, control panel. Click network and dial up connections. Right click your internet connection and go to the sharing tab. Click share this connection and click ok. THERE NOW YOUR DOMAIN IS DONE!


THERE NOW YOUR DOMAIN IS SETUP! THANKS FOR READING!