Logging onto a domain

[MJoshi]

What is required to automatically bring up a login prompt on Windows to logon to a domain when a computer is started up?

Is the operating system installed as per normal for a standard standalone machine?

Thanks.

 

[seepy83]

Install the OS just like you usually would and then join it to the domain. To join it to the domain, you'll need to go into System Properties where you would set the computer name, and then instead of the computer being in a Workgroup, you would specify the domain name and join it with an account that has permissions to add computers to the domain.

You can use some tools to image a PC so that the OS is installed and the computer is automatically joined to a domain, but you don't need to.

 

[MJoshi]

Thanks for your reply 'seepy83'.

I am aware of how to set the Workgroup the same to enable file, printer and resource sharing.

However, I would like to know how the operating system is setup on computers which automatically present a logon prompt when the computer has booted up?

For example in large organisations, there are multiple computers that all logon to a server and have allocated disk space.

Thanks.

 

[JackMDS]

Domain means that there is a Central Server that controls all the computers that LogOn to the Domain.

Most of the settings are control by the Sever. The server is usually configured and controlled by the IT Pro of the network.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Thanks for your reply 'seepy83'.

I am aware of how to set the Workgroup the same to enable file, printer and resource sharing.

However, I would like to know how the operating system is setup on computers which automatically present a logon prompt when the computer has booted up?

It's in the same spot, like he said.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Connect-your-computer-to-a-domain

Note the last line: "If your computer was a member of a workgroup before you joined the domain, it will be removed from the workgroup."

You can think of a domain as a centrally managed workgroup (you'll need a server functioning as a domain controller.)

Read this, and the linked article on Active Directory to get a little more info.

 

[MJoshi]

Thanks 'dave_the_nerd' - I think it's clear now.

So when you select the 'domain' option and enter the domain, the administration/user login prompt should appear?

Does this also cause the prompt to appear when the computer boots up each time?

What determines centrally managed user disk space etc.?

 

[seepy83]

Thanks 'dave_the_nerd' - I think it's clear now.

So when you select the 'domain' option and enter the domain, the administration/user login prompt should appear?

Does this also cause the prompt to appear when the computer boots up each time?

What determines centrally managed user disk space etc.?

Yes, once the computer is joined to the domain, the log on prompt will have a dropdown box so you can log in with a user account that's a member of the domain, or you can select the PC name and log on with a local user account. Or, with my experience with Windows 7 and Server 2008 up until now, it will default to logging in to the domain unless you specify the local workstation by entering the username as WorkstationName\Username. There is no dropdown box at the log on prompt for windows versions newer than xp and server 2003.

Centrally managed disk space? I'm not sure what you're referring to. I think you might need to take a class or read some books or technet documentation about Active Directory to get a better understanding of what a domain is.

 

[MJoshi]

'seepy83' what I meant by centrally managed disk space is where the amount of disk quota is managed by the system administrator and the user does not store their data locally but on a server somewhere.

 

[Nothinman]

'seepy83' what I meant by centrally managed disk space is where the amount of disk quota is managed by the system administrator and the user does not store their data locally but on a server somewhere.

Quotas are defined on the server sharing the files and are per-volume, there's no magical centrally managed storage available upon joining a domain. No offense, but it sounds like you need an AD 101 course. Have you thought about downloading a trial of Windows Server and setting up an lab AD domain?

 

[Carson Dyle]

A key point: With Windows 7, only the Ultimate, Professional and Enterprise editions are capable of joining a domain. With Windows 8 there's no Ultimate edition, so only Pro and Enterprise are capable.