Workgroup vs Domain

What is workgroup?

• A workgroup is a collection of individuals working together on a task.
• Workgroup occurs when all the individuals have computers connected to a network that allows them to send e-mail to one another, share data files, and schedule meetings.
• Workgroup systems allow users to define workflows so that data is automatically forwarded to appropriate people at each stage of a process.

Advantages

• Easy to share resources.
• Resources are distributed among all computer.
• Simple to design.
• Easy to implement.
• Convenient for small groups in close proximity.
• Less expensive does not requires a central server.

Disadvantages

• No centralized control of resources.
• No centralized account management.
• No centralized security management.
• Inefficient for more than 20 workstation.

What is domain?

• A Windows domain is a form of a computer network in which all user accounts, computers, printers and other security principals, are registered with a central database located on one or more clusters of central computers known as domain controllers.
• Each person who uses computers within a domain receives a unique user account that can then be assigned access to resources within the domain.
• The concept of Windows domain is in contrast with that of a workgroup in which each computer maintains its own database of security principals.

Advantages

• Centralized control of resource.
• Centralized security management.
• Centralized account management.
• Efficient performance for a virtually unlimited number of workstation.
• Users need to be trained only used client.
• Not restricted for close proximity.

Disadvantages

• Significant administrative effort and overhead.
• Complicated design required advanced planning.
• Require one or more expensive server.
• Absolute security is hard to achieve.
• Expense for domain controllers increases and access decreases with network size.

Workgroup vs Domain

Workgroup	Domain
All computer systems are peers and one computer can not control another computer.	There will be one or more computers are the servers. The security and permissions are controlled by network administrators.
Every computer have to sets user account.	A user with an account on the domain can log onto any computer system, without having the account on that computer.
The numbers of computer systems are limited to ten or twenty.	The number of computer systems can be hundreds or thousands of computers.
Every computer must be part of the same LAN or subnet.	The computers can be connected to different local networks.