How to Work with Workgroups

A Windows XP Professional workgroup is a logical grouping of networked computers
that share resources, such as files and printers. A workgroup is also called a peer-topeer
network because all computers in the workgroup can share resources as equals
(peers) without requiring a dedicated server.
Each computer in the workgroup maintains a local security database, which is a list of user
accounts and resource security information for the computer on which it resides. Using a
local security database on each workstation decentralizes the administration of user
accounts and resource security in a workgroup.

Because workgroups have decentralized administration and security, the following are
true:
■ A user must have a user account on a local computer if that user wants to log on
to that computer locally (that is, by sitting down at that computer).
■ Any changes to user accounts, such as changing a user’s password or adding a
new user account, must be made on each computer in the workgroup. If you forget
to add a new user account to one of the computers in your workgroup, the
new user cannot log on to that computer and cannot access resources on it.
Workgroups provide the following advantages:
■ Workgroups do not require a domain controller to hold centralized security information,
making workgroups much simpler to configure and manage.
■ Workgroups are simple to design and implement. Workgroups do not require the
extensive planning and administration that a domain requires.
■ Workgroups provide a convenient networking environment for a limited number
of computers in close proximity. However, a workgroup becomes impractical in
environments with more than 10 computers.