We have:
(50) PC with XP PRO SP2
(1) Windows 2000 server
(1) Windows 2003 server
(1) AS400 Iseries server

Project: To go from a workgroup to a domain
Outcome: To utilize active directory and it's securities.

Hardware: This is all the hardware I have to run a lab. Two XP computers and one pc where I'm going to installed 2000 server.

Question: Everything! What do I do? How do I set this up to test? Anyone have any suggestions or know any good books I can get?

Any other suggestions?

So just what are you taking anyhow? MS certifications? A 2 year diploma course?

How far along are you?

A 2yr program... Yes, I am a total newbie

Absolutely nothing wrong with being new. We've all been there at one point or another in our lives. Also, no problem with asking for help either. Just try to exhaust all other means of answering your question before asking in forum. If you've read any of today's posts, you've likely noticed we get a little tired of those kinds of questions after a while.

I'll tell you this much, having worked with a network that included an AS400. The AS400 will require dumb terminal emulation software on PC clients that need to access it.

What do I do? How do I set this up to test? Anyone have any suggestions or know any good books I can get?

Start with the server. Once it's installed, promote it to a DC. Then add clients. You should know how to do this by now or you wouldn't have been given the assignment. If that's not true, then you need to have a discussion with your instructor and the school itself about what they're teaching you and how. They should provide you with text books (which of couse you'll have to pay for) and all necessary learning materials.

As for the rest, well, that'll be tough to do without an AS400 and a 2003 server. You might want to look at some virtual software like VMWare to allow multiple instances of OS's on a single PC.

Either you need a 2003 boot camp or you need to get the MS 70-29x series books.

The book set comes with a 180 day eval of 2003 or you can download it. 2000 just won't cut it. Too much different. No need to learn 2000 unless you want a less secure mixed environment. You'd be better off with 2 systems running 2003. Then follow the books. After you get all the books read and followed all the setups you might be ready to set up a best practice's and secure AD domain.

I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you goober.

appreciate all the help.

I guess I really luck out. Being very presistent and showing great passion played a huge on getting this role even though I'm a newbie. Maybe this company see something in me, who's know..

Well, it kinda was my idea in persuading our company to moved to a domain from a workgroup. Maybe I should've held back on my proposal. But what's down is down and I've got about 6-9mths to get this up. Well, that be enough time, I ask myself.

To elaborate on what we have.
The Wins 2003 server reside within the AS400 box. (on it's own board)
We have about 20 dummy terminals already in production.
Our Wins 2000 server does nothing but host our symantec corp.
The AS400 host all our data.

This company is all about saving money so pretty much I'm stuck with just a few old pc to play with. What do you recommend I do first? I thought about installing windows 2003 on a pc but because of licensing issues I've only got 30 days to use it. So, I thought maybe windows 2000 but then how much of a difference would it be? And would I really want an older server to be the primary domain. As for the AS400, wow that to me is like learning a brand new language.

I kinda know the advantages of a domain but would it really speed up network performances, file sharing, ect...?