What is the difference between domains and workgroups? They are both consist of computers connected together on a network, so what is the major difference? Is there a website that explain this? I went webopedia but it's still not conclusive to me.

These terms are commonly used to describe types of networks. Client/Server vs Peer to Peer. In a client/server configuration network resources, user accounts, and permissions are centrally managed. In a peer to peer network each computer controlls its own resources, user accounts, and permissions. Additionally, a domain is defined as a collection of resources that share a common namespace. see http://www.nj.devry.edu/~tkist/WGorDom.pdf for more info -Chaz

it is just a preference of the administrator, there isn't as much of a difference as you would think.

I found this article but due to my lack of knowledge in system administration, I can only understand so much. http://www.winnetmag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=2501

Actually Mike...there's a lot of differences between the two...and here they are: A workgroup is a peer-to-peer network where resources and security is distributed (ie: each PC can contain it's own users and groups and shared data and the person with administrative level access on each PC controls access to local resources). A domain is a client/server network where security and resource management is centralized. In other words, you have one database for domain users. A user can log on at any workstation and regardless of where they log on, they are authenticated by the domain and can access domain resources. This means only having to create a single user account per user so they can access resources...whereas in a workgroup, if you have 10 PC's all with shares, you would need to create a user account for each person in the network on each PC in the network. That's a lot more work than the domain model...especially in a large environment that encompasses say, 2000 PC's and a large number of resources. With the domain model, once logged in and authenticated, a user can then access any/all resources for which they have the appropriate permissions. The domain model also means you can have only one administrator (at the very least) to administer the domain and it's users and resources....whereas with the workgroup model, each user controls the resources and security locally on their PC's as I pointed out earlier.

Great explanation Curt. The other explanations missed the mark. And as you said, Mike is completed out in left field. The difference between a workgroup and domain are huge and even more than what you explained. Basically it comes down to how large your network is, what your security concerns are and probably most importantly, how many users you have.

As i am in the process of converting a 6 PC workgroup (with 12 users yes its a pain) to a domain based network i can tell you i am looking forward to not having to go to each winblows PC each time a user and or password changes. Workgroups are just too much trouble if you want to administrate your resources effectively. Domains are much easier in the long run. i know from experience. Oh i wouldnt use Windows for domain server environment --> too unstable