How to create a windows xp domain?

[size=18]I was wondering HOW to create a domain to join together 4 computers running windows xp.

lol this question is dumb on so many levels where do i start. Hummm. First of all use an os such as windows server 2003 windows nt server or windows 2000 server. i would say advanced server 200 but if your askin how to do this you should just stick with the non advanced version. Second you dont need a domain to link 4 computers running windows xp all you need is a simple hub,switch,or router(if your running some sort of broadband connection.) If your just tryin to join together 4 xp machines a hub or switch will do. Third read a book about this s*** cause this question was dumb your lucky im not a moderator or this topic would have been locked due to stupidity

Asking a question that you don't know the answer to, is not dumb WoRd Of WiSdOm. Not everyone around here is an expert with computers. (And please watch your language). Your reply makes it apparent why you are not a moderator.

You pretty much answered the question , but to make it a little more clear, you can't create a domain with just a Windows operating system like XP. You need a server as noted. The hub / router /switch solution is probably the simplest solution that even inexperienced users could probably do with ease.

My Sincerest apologies For The Outburst[/list]

Hi everyone, my problem is quite similar:

I have a small network, consist of 10 computers. 2 of them are servers:
SERVER 1 : web server(Xitami) & internet gateway(AnalogX Proxy)
SERVER 2 : local video server(VideoLAN)
the rest is client. All computers use windows XP PRO. They all connected to 16 port switch.

I have 1 public IP shared and a subdomain name (myweb.isp.com) from my local ISP.

I'm intented to add more services (and more computer if required):
1. local domain controller server
2. mail extension; and (if possible)
3. myweb.isp.com name domain server

What should I prepared?
Where should I deployed the services?
Assuming OS installation other than WinXP PRO is not an option, are there any 3rd party programs that could help me run those services?

Thank you for any response for this posting

You can't have a "Windows domain" without running a Windows server (and XP Home clients can't be joined to a domain, so good thing you have XP Pro). The best you can do with XP (without a server) is establish a peer-to-peer network, and I think 5 computers is the max you can do. If you don't already have a server, then look into getting 2003 Server Small Business Suite. It allows up to 50 CAL's (computer access licenses). The licenses will cost you more than the server. Depending on what you want for a server and where you get it from you are possibly looking at 8-10 grand (maybe less depending on how many licenses you need). Exchange will handle your email. You kinda sorta need to know what you are doing on this. It's a fairly simple process if you know what you're doing, but it's overwhelming if you don't. You might want to consider some Windows networking classes if you haven't been there done that already.

Good Question! I've also been trying to configure XP Pro as a domain server - simply because I want to do it because everybody else is saying you have to use XP 2000 or 2003 or NT.

Yes, I've seen in the help files where it says Active Directory is not available in XP Professional or XP Home. That doesn't mean it can't be added.

I've also read somewhere in another forum (just today) that the Windows 2003 Active Directory management tools WILL work in XP Pro (you just have to figure out how to get them there.)

I have ALSO seen that MS Help files for one of the msc panels tells me I can't use the Active Directory management console UNLESS I have "XP Professional configured as a server" - which I take as an implication that, somehow, there is a way to configure XP Pro as an Active Directory-capable server.

To the people who pooh-pooh the idea and say "Get Windows 2003 Server", I say, buy me the PC and CD and I'll be happy to. I already OWN this PC that already has XP Pro installed. Just because you can't figure out how to do something, doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be done.

All I want to do is get XP Pro to do the minimum needed as a domain server, so I will have a domain name to use with SMTP, so I can do email directly to & from my PC without having to use someone else's email server to host my mail. ESPECIALLY now that the ISP's have all been given permission to legally snoop on all the emails. - but really, I just want to see if I can do it because so MANY people keep saying it can't be done. What better reason is there for a PC hobbyist to try to do something?

While I'm here, does anyone know how to make the stubborn IIS 5.1 in XP Pro reveal the default SMTP virtual folder which must be there, but which has apparently been hidden by MS Exchange? No doubt there's a simple registry entry that could be tweaked or added to reveal it, but that'll be the needle in the haystack. Or maybe it will be revealable once I get the Active Directory Administration tools (from 2003 Server) installed on this PC (since I read today that they would work under XP Pro.) So far, all the SMTP configuration docs start by saying "run the IIS admin tool and open the SMTP virtual folder" - but it doesn't show in mine. (Yes, SMTP is already running.)

********
Running XP Pro with SP2 & lots of other stuff

John,

Hope you're having some success.
The AD tools that run on XP still need to access a 2000/3 server. XP simply doesn't have the functionality to create and maintain Active Directory and Domains.

I would suggest though that you get your hands on a copy of Server 2000/3 trial edition which MS Press have in there books related to it. Shouldn't be too hard to obtain/borrow/steal...

On a fresh box partition the HDD and install XP pro on one and 2000 Server on the other then do a file comparison and see what Server has got that XP doesn't.

Identify the files and copy them over to the XP partition. You'll also need to do a simliar (but far more difficult operation) on the registery... that'll be the killer.

Let us know how ya go. I've got just this setup and might do it myself but my XP system is fairly loaded and tweaked and the comparisons might not be as simple as on a clean system.

Regards
Ragman

I've put that project on indefinite hold. I've been told it can be done when XP is first installed on the PC, but not afterward. And I'm not about to wipe my 7-year-old PC to try it out. Maybe someday if I buy a new C: drive, I'll see what happens.

I'm still wondering (if it can't be done) why Microsoft has in one of its help messages that such and so requires "bla bla bla or a Windows XP Professional PC configured as a domain server". You'd think they'd have known whether or not it could be done.

Regardless, I am not going to be getting either another PC, nor am I going to reconfigure this one to be running 2003, so neither of those are solution options.

I DID find a site somewhere that explained how to get some of the 2003 server tools installed on an XP machine to do what I am attempting, but now I'm fiddling around with other stuff and (being retired) have no great incentive to hurry back to focus on the project.

Thanks for replying, though.

hii guys , i just have a problem and cant figure out a soluation

i have a switch at home connecting my pc and my laptop and another switch with 12 users and i want to share files between my pc and laptop and in the other hand i dont want any other user to gain access to this files , i dont know how its done but in some how when u r trying to access shared files a username and password window appear asking u to gain acces but in my case either im granted or im denied without any username or password window im using xp pro on both computer , can anyone help howa can i get the username and password window to make sure im the only one who can acces this files , and by the way there is DHCP server so i cant share files for specefic ips my ip today is not my ip tomorrow

Is this a home network or a work network?

The easiest simplest way for this to be done is to make sure all XP machines are part of the same workgroup. The same user accounts need to exist on all the machines with same passwords. Then share out a folder containing the files you want/need to access and grant permission to the user accounts you want to have access. Then to access the files you would click on Start then Run and type in \\computername\sharedfoldername and press enter. No need to know the IP address but you could do \\ipaddress\sharedfolder.

thx grinch , but thats not my question , simply i just want to share files on my pc and to be asked for username ans password on my laptop so i can access this files , hope u can help

You cannot run Active Directory or Domain Controller Services from an XP box, completely impossible, anyone who says they do is full of it.

Actually if you want just the Primary Domain Controller running on Windows XP Pro (Or Any Windows Version though you need XP Pro for XP Clients to Login) this can be done, and fairly easy. It takes a little effort and the knowledge that Windows Server is not the only way to have a PDC for an NT Domain. You can use Samba which is what most Linux systems use to share files with Windows. This can also be compiled and run on a Windows system with the GNU Compiler Cygwin which is just a really stripped down version of Red Hat that can run on Windows, it works for many applications and is somewhat handy. http://smithii.com/node/36 is a quick link on a setup guide I found, it does not go over configuring Samba as a PDC. I do recommend a great book I used for learning Samba Server administration which when I remember the name (The book is at work) I’ll be glad to post it. I do know this works as I have it running at home as a NT Domain Server and at work as well rather than buying a server OS. The only bad thing is you can’t have a backup domain controller as far as I remember, my Samba installs are still 2.4.X or so fairly old and I know it was a planned update. Samba is now in the 3.X.X versions so it may be possible.

can anyone help me i would like to do the following:

create a system where i can log on to any computer on a network, and build a media storage computer, i have five members of my family so i want to add a 160GB hdd partitioned into 5 giving each member of the family 32GB of personal space "will i need to put passwords onto each hard drve and how do i do this" i will also like to put a 250GB hard disk in here to as shared space

my hardware is as follows

BT home hub

computer: AMD 64 3800+ with a dvd-rw, 1gb ram running windows vista home premium connected to the home hub through an ethernet able

laptop: Intel PIII 700Mhz no rom drives
256mb RAM running XP PRO
connected through WI-FI

computer: intel Celeron 2.2GHz DVDROM/CD-RW 256mb RAM running XP Home SP2
not connected to HOME HUB

XBOX 360: PATCH cable
XBOX console: NOT connected

and will soon be adding:

Computer: Intel celeron 700MHz DVD-rom
256MB RAM running Windows XP PRO

Computer: Intel celeron 700MHz DVD-rom
256MB RAM running Windows XP PRO

and a laptop: Intel Celeron 550mhz cd-rom
32mb RAM running 98SE

and would like a printer networked to all computers could you tell me what printer would be best i have 2 teenagers on the go a 5 year old and me and my wife so it will have to bee cheap to run

could anybody tell me what specs i will need for the server, what i will need to connect all the computers to the network what hardware i will need and what software i will need also

THANK you very much KEITH