Datasheet

Organizing Networks
674
Client PCs have some autonomy in a client/server network, but not a whole
lot. And a bit of leeway exists in how much security a specific network or
server enforces — some less-secure networks may allow guest accounts, for
example, that don’t require passwords. But by and large, client/server net-
works are set up to be secure. They exist to allow computers (and users and
peripherals) to talk to each other. But strict limits are rigorously enforced on
what individual users can do, where they can go, and what they can see.
Microsoft introduced a new umbrella security system in Windows 2000 Server
called Active Directory. It’s designed to put control of all client/server secu-
rity activities in one place. Active Directory is a very complex program — a
world unto its own. If you have trouble talking to your network administrator
in simple English, you may take some solace in the fact that he has to talk to
Active Directory, and the translation can be challenging. The African “click”
languages pale in comparison.
In general, you want to use Windows Vista Enterprise Edition (or possibly
Ultimate) if you’re on a client/server network. Yes, you can set up Vista
Business Edition to work on a client/server network. No, it isn’t worth the
effort — or added expense.
In this book, I don’t talk about client/server networks (er,
domains) very
much, simply because you don’t have much control over them. If you use a
client/server network, chances are good that somebody else in your com-
pany made the decision to go with client/server. He or she probably installed
your copy of Vista — most likely Vista Enterprise — or bought a new machine
rigged to his specifications and configured it to work with your company’s
network. He also gets to fix things when your network connection goes
bump in the night. Poetic justice, sez I.
I have to talk about client/server from time to time, though, for three big
reasons:
✦ You may have an existing client/server network that you want to con-
vert to a peer-to-peer network.
Many Dummies (I’ll raise my hand here)
installed Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows 2003 client/server
networks in their homes or offices, and they’re tired of the constant has-
sles. They need to understand enough about client/server to get rid of it.
✦ You may actually need some of the features that client/server offers
and not know it.
In that case, you are better off to bite the bullet now
and get client/server going, instead of struggling with peer-to-peer as
an unintentional stopgap.
✦ Client/server is the original form of networking (at least in the business
environment; you can argue about academia some other time). As such,
many networking concepts — and much of the obscure terminology —
originated in the client/server cauldron.
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