It is important to plan your domain carefully. You cannot change a computer's role from member server to domain controller without reinstalling Windows NT Server.

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What Is the Difference Between a Domain Controller and a Server?

A member server:

•	Does not receive a copy of the domain account database, but does have access to it if it is a member of the domain.
•	Maintains its own local user account database.
•	Does not process domain logons.
•	Has the same built-in user groups as a Windows NT Workstation (including Power Users).
•	Can be configured as a member of a domain or workgroup.

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You may have to make a determination about the role of a server in the domain. Use one of the following methods to determine the computer's role.

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Method 1

1.	Click Start, and then click Programs.
2.	Click Command Prompt.
3.	At the command prompt, type net accounts, and then press ENTER.

A list of information appears, and the last line of the information indicates the computer role.

Sample of the output:

   c:\>NET ACCOUNTS
   Force user logoff how long after time expires?:       Never
   Minimum password age (days):                          0
   Maximum password age (days):                          42
   Minimum password length:                              0
   Length of password history maintained:                None
   Lockout threshold:                                    Never
   Lockout duration (minutes):                           30
   Lockout observation window (minutes):                 30
   Computer role:                                        PRIMARY
   The command completed successfully.
				

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Method 2

1.	Right-click Network Neighborhood.
2.	Click Properties.
3.	Click the Identification tab.
4.	Click Change.

If you can change the computer to a workgroup, the server is a member server. You cannot do this if the server is a domain controller.

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Method 3

1.	Click Start, click Programs, and then click Administrative Tools.
2.	Click Server Manager.
3.	View the role of the computer in Server Manager.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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