Win2000 Server w/o AD

[LJMcA]

Hello,

Very small shop (7 workstations) migrating from NT4.0 to Windows 2000.
Workstations are already running W2K Pro. We're in process of configuring
new W2K Server and would like to know if it's possible to setup our domain
without using Active Directory.

We tackled it a couple of years ago, got in over our heads, backed out and
stayed with NT4.0. We really need to upgrade servers but still don't want
to use AD but do need a domain. If W2K Server does require AD, then what
about Win2003 Server?

Thanks in advance
Larry

 

[Paul Bergson {MCT, MCSE}]

You don't need AD to network. Just continue using a workgroup in either
2000 or 2003. If you are upgrading just use 2003. Things have changed
though since NT and you will need to use local security policies on your
server.

 

[Laura E. Hunter \(MVP\)]

If you configure Windows 2000 without Active Directory, then you will be in
a workgroup configuration, with local user accounts on each machine.

(A good reference if that's the way you want to go: Configuring Windows 2000
Without Active Directory, by Syngress Media:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...104-6789978-5983908?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

If you require a domain configuration, then you'll need to configure Active
Directory. This applies to both Windows 2000 & Windows Server 2003.

 

[LJMcA]

Thanks Paul,

I've been "Googling" all over the place since posting and keep seeing
references to deploying W2K server without AD. Is this what they're all
talking about - and not saying - that yes you can do it, but only as a
'workgroup'. We've been comfortable for years now as a small NT domain with
a PDC providing minimal authentication needs and file service. We don't use
DHCP at all and have an old AIX box configured for DNS (why I don't know,
since we know almost all the IP addresses anyway, but ...)

Believe it or not - am I admitting this here? - dropping back to a
'workgroup' would actually add a learning curve and my be as problematic as
AD. Anyway, I'm running on (sorry):

If we want W2K as a single Domain Controller do we have to run AD?

Thanks,
Larry

 

[LJMcA]

Thanks Laura,

You actually just answered my reply to Paul - before you'd seen it! Y'all
are great! We're trying to figure out the overall impact to us now.

Thanks again,
Larry

 

[Paul Bergson {MCT, MCSE}]

If you are using a PDC then migrating to 2000/2003 will require you to use
AD. You can downgrade to a workgroup if you want but I wouldn't recommend
that from your current config.