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UCB Windows 2000 Campus Domain FAQ
This document is intended to answer common questions of IT administrators on the UCB campus regarding the campus Windows 2000 domain.
General Windows 2000 questions
- What is Windows 2000?
- Windows 2000 is the newest generation of the Microsoft Windows operating system. It is based on the core technology of Windows NT 4, but is vastly different than NT 4. It comes in four versions: Professional, Server, Advanced Server, and Datacenter Server. For the overwhelming majority of campus uses, only Professional and Server are needed. ITS recommends visiting the Microsoft Windows 2000 site for more details.
- Is training available for Windows 2000?
- UCB participates in a computer based training program that contains several courses on various aspects of Windows 2000. These training courses are free to faculty, staff, and students at UCB. For more information please visit the CBT online guide.
- Should we migrate to Windows 2000?
- There are a number of advantages of running Windows 2000 instead of Windows 9x or Windows NT 4. In general, the benefits outweigh the cost, but each department should evaluate their computing environment and make it's own decision. ITS recommends visiting the Microsoft Windows 2000 site for more details on the changes from Win9x or Win NT 4 to Windows 2000.
- When should we deploy Windows 2000?
- ITS recommends deploying Windows 2000 Professional (the successor to Windows NT 4 Workstation) as soon as you feel comfortable with the product, have tested applications and hardware for compatibility, and have sufficient hardware. These workstations can remain members of your NT 4 domain if you have one.
- Likewise, NT 4 member servers can be upgraded to Windows 2000 whenever you are ready and also remain members of your NT 4 domain. You should not upgrade your Windows NT 4 domain controllers (PDCs or BDCs) to Windows 2000. If you feel you are ready to address moving to a Windows 2000 domain, please read the Joining the Campus Domain Overview document and follow the instructions given there.
- How and where should I purchase Windows 2000?
- Campus departments can take advantage of UCB's SELECT program for Microsoft product licensing. This program allows the campus to purchase Microsoft products at a greatly reduced rate. Click here for details about this program.
Campus Windows 2000 domain questions
- What is the campus Windows 2000 domain?
- The campus Windows 2000 domain is a domain, tree and forest all rolled into one (see campus domain diagram). It serves as the backbone of Windows 2000 networking on the UCB campus. The campus domain provides a variety of services including central user management and Kerberos interoperability.
- Who maintains it?
- The campus Windows 2000 domain is maintained by the Network and Desktop Operating Systems group of Information Technology Services.
- Are departments required to join the campus domain?
- Departments are not required to join the campus domain, but ITS does not support the creation of independent Windows 2000 domains on campus. Departments can run Windows 2000 as stand-alone servers and workstations or as members of an NT 4 domain.
- What are the benefits of joining the campus domain?
My department wants to join the domain
- How should we prepare for deploying Windows 2000?
- First, familiarize yourself with Windows 2000 by reading Microsoft information, articles and books, and by installing and using it on a test computer.
- Second, visit the UCB Windows 2000 Resource Center to learn how Windows 2000 is being implemented on the UCB campus.
- Third, join the UCB e-mail list for campus Windows 2000 updates (win2k-news@lists.colorado.edu).
- Fourth, contact the Network and Desktop Operating Systems group of ITS with your questions about Windows 2000 and deployment on campus.
- Last, if you have decided to deploy Windows 2000 follow the instructions given in the Joining the Campus Domain Overview document.
- Can we place some test computers in the domain first?
- There are two options for trying out the domain. First, ITS maintains a test domain identical to the primary domain that your department can join. Second, your department can join a small number of machines to the campus domain. Either option allows your department to experience using a domain. ITS recommends that those not familiar with Windows 2000, or those testing application compatibility use the test domain. No production machines should be joined to the test domain.
- How do we join the campus domain?
- Will I lose some administrative capabilities by joining the domain?
- In general, you will have virtually all of the same capabilities as you do now. There are a couple of exceptions that are important, mainly the inability to create user objects (all user management is centrally controlled) and the inability to alter the schema (the schema is shared by all groups in the domain and changes are not reversible).
My department has not decided if we want to join the domain
- Can we do a trial run with the domain?
- There are two options for trying out the domain. First, ITS maintains a test domain identical to the primary domain that your department can join. Second, your department can join a small number of machines to the campus domain. Either option allows your department to experience using a domain. ITS recommends that those not familiar with Windows 2000, or those testing application compatibility use the test domain. No production machines should be joined to the test domain.
- Can we run Windows 2000 without a domain?
- Windows 2000 can be run in a stand-alone environment without any domains, but you will not have the benefits of Active Directory.
- Can we create our own domain?
- ITS does not support the creation of independent Windows 2000 domains on campus. There are a number of ramifications to creating a Windows 2000 domain and a misconfigured domain can cause problems with other campus computing and networking services.
Getting Help
help@colorado.edu
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