What is the difference between a domain and a workgroup?

Computers on a network can be part of a workgroup or a domain. The main difference between workgroups and domains is how resources on the network are managed. Computers on home networks are usually part of a workgroup, and computers on workplace networks are usually part of a domain.

In a workgroup:
All computers are peers; no computer has control over another computer. Each computer has a set of user accounts. To use any computer in the workgroup, you must have an account on that computer. There are typically no more than ten to twenty computers. All computers must be on the same local network or subnet.

In a domain:
One or more computers are servers. Network administrators use servers to control the security and permissions for all computers on the domain. This makes it easy to make changes because the changes are automatically made to all computers. If you have a user account on the domain, you can log on to any computer on the domain without needing an account on that computer. There can be hundreds or thousands of computers. The computers can be on different local networks.

Domain: 1) Centralized Administration. 2) Security of Data, User & Groups 3)Server & Clients Based 4)Windows 2000 & 2003 Server or Advance Support For Server Configuration 5)File, Folder & User & Group Permission we can assign. WORKGROUP: 1)No Centralized Admiistration. 2)Not much security for Data, User & Groups. (Depends on Configuration) 3)No Server & Client Matter..Each pc reacts like a Client as well as Server. 4)Basically Windows 98 & XP is going to used in Clients side. 5)We can assign permission to drives & folder & files but much secuirty than Domain

Workgroup

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Domain

Networking in Windows means that you would need to setup a domain or a workgroup so that all the computers connected can communicate with each other. Whether you have a domain or a workgroup is all up to your network administrator and the scale of your network. Workgroups are used when there are only a few computers in the same location that needs to be connected. Domains, on the other hand, is meant for large scale deployments where there are dozens of computers connected to the network. Even computers from outside the location can connect to the domain with the use of VPN technologies. Workgroups are substantially easier to create compared to domains. You would simply need to connect two computers to a switch and assign them to the same workgroup, you already have a working workgroup. In order to have a domain implemented, you would need to set-up a domain controller which is the computer that authenticates and users who wants to connect and provides them the resources that are afforded them. The domain controllers are also essential in adding an extra layer of security for the system beyond the normal usual security from individual computers which is whats available in workgroups. Although it is harder to implement a domain compared to a workgroup, it adds better scalability to the whole system which is essential for the expansion of businesses. Adding accounts or computers in a workgroup would mean that each computer needs to be configured for each account, this is time consuming and cumbersome especially when the computers number in the dozens. In a domain, the administrator can do all this on a single terminal in a very short time. Aside from scalability, domains are also very structured and you can assign what services or folders a specific account can access. This feature is not available in workgroups and anyone connected to the workgroup can access the same services and resources.

Summary: 1. Workgroups are fitted for smaller networks while Domains are used in large scale longer safer users while in workgroups a do deployments like in to not have this be a level lot of medium and big businesses implement protection of work 2. Workgroups are easy to implement while domains are harder and takes 3. The control in a domain is centralized to the domain controller which is 4. Domains are very scalable while increasing the number of computers and workgroup could 5. You can assign resources to certain accounts in domains but not in workgroups