CHAPTER 6

WORKGROUP COMPUTING

A workgroup is a peer-to-peer network using Microsoft software. A workgroup allows all participating and
connected systems to access shared resources such as files, system resources and printers.

It’s a group of computers on a local area network that share common resources and responsibilities. You can easily
create a workgroup by connecting two or more PCs without going through a separate server computer.

In a workgroup, each computer on the network is physically connected to a router or switch. Each computer that’s
a member of a workgroup can access shared resources in the network, like files or printers, or share their own
resources with the group. While a workgroup is a group of computers that are connected to a network, it’s not the
same as a network. You can connect a computer to your network without making it a member of a specific
workgroup. You can even have multiple workgroups in the same network.

A workgroup is a basic network configuration used in small offices or home offices, where a group of computers is
connected together to share resources and information. The components of a workgroup typically include:

1. Computers: Workgroup computers can be desktops, laptops, or other devices that can connect to a
network. Each computer must have a unique name and IP address to identify it on the network.
2. Network Interface Cards (NICs): NICs are hardware devices that allow a computer to connect to a network
using wired or wireless connections.
3. Switch or Router: A switch or router is a networking device that allows the computers in a workgroup to
communicate with each other and share resources such as printers and files.
4. Cabling: Physical cabling such as Ethernet cables is used to connect the computers to the switch or router.
5. Network protocols: Network protocols, such as TCP/IP, are used to ensure that the computers in the
workgroup can communicate with each other and share resources effectively.
6. File and printer sharing: File and printer sharing allows users to share files and printers with other users
on the network. Each computer must have the appropriate permissions set to allow access to shared
resources.
7. User accounts and passwords: Each user in the workgroup must have a unique account and password to
access shared resources. This ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive data.

Overall, the components of a workgroup are relatively simple and straightforward, making it an ideal network
configuration for small businesses or home offices.

Advantages of a workgroup :

 Usually designed for small local area networks such as schools, homes or small businesses. Easy to install
and configure.
 Function best and with fewer computers.
 Is easier to set up and configure than a domain.
 All content and resources can be shared with peers in the network.
 Setting up a workgroup name is independent of any hardware dependencies.
 Microsoft operating system provides resources for setting up workgroup.The workgroup settings are
provided in the properties window in the Microsoft operating system.The Net command also can be used
for obtaining information on the workgroup.
 Larger networks can be categorized into workgroups, which helps in better management.
Disadvantages of workgroup:

 The security measures provided in a workgroup are not as strong as those for a domain.
 Workgroups are not suggested for sensitive data, transmitting networks, nor business network.
 There is no centralized management of the resources unlike the domain network.

There are two types of workgroups: peer-to-peer and client-server.

1. Peer-to-peer workgroup: In a peer-to-peer workgroup, each computer has equal authority and
responsibility for sharing resources such as files and printers. This means that each computer on the
network can access and share resources with other computers on the network, and there is no centralized
server controlling access.

Peer-to-peer workgroups are commonly used in small offices or home networks where there are only a few
computers, and there is no need for a dedicated server to manage resources.

2. Client-server workgroup: In a client-server workgroup, one computer acts as a server that manages
resources and provides services to other computers on the network. The server is responsible for
managing user accounts, file sharing, printer sharing, and other network resources.

Client-server workgroups are commonly used in larger organizations where there are many users and resources to
manage. The server can provide centralized control and management of resources, making it easier to secure and
manage the network.

Overall, the type of workgroup used depends on the size and complexity of the network, as well as the needs of
the organization or users.

Application of workgroup

Workgroups are commonly used in small to medium-sized businesses, as well as in homes and small offices. Some
common applications of workgroups include:

1. File and Printer Sharing: Workgroups allow users to share files and printers between computers on the
network. This allows for easy collaboration and access to resources.
2. Collaboration: Workgroups allow users to work together on projects and share resources such as
documents and files. This can improve productivity and efficiency.
3. Data Backup and Recovery: Workgroups allow users to easily backup and recover data by storing files on
shared drives or on a central server.
4. Internet Sharing: Workgroups allow multiple computers to share a single Internet connection, which can
save on costs and improve access to the Internet.
5. Resource Management: Workgroups allow administrators to manage resources such as printers, scanners,
and other devices from a central location, which can improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Overall, workgroups provide a simple and cost-effective way for users to share resources, collaborate, and manage
network resources.
How to set up a Windows 10 workgroup?
Once you’ve set up your network in your small office, you can follow the steps below to connect all your devices to
a single Windows workgroup:

1. Navigate to the Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > System. You will get to view basic information
about your computer screen.
2. Click on Change Settings under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings to arrive at the System
properties pop-up.
3. Click on Change to rename this computer.
4. Under the Computer Name/Domain Changes pop-up, you’ll have the option to join the workgroup of your
choice. Ensure that all the devices you want in a particular workgroup are joined to that workgroup. In
this case, the workgroup is named My Workgroup. The following image shows where you can enter the
name of the workgroup you want to join.

Setting up a Workgroup

How do I share files and folders in a workgroup?

Now that you’ve set up a workgroup for your small office, let’s talk about how to share files and folders among
different users in a Windows 10 workgroup. Let’s assume that you want to share the My Games folder under
Documents.

Follow the steps below to share this folder:

1. Right-click My Games.
2. Click Properties.
3. Click the Sharing tab.
 4. Click on Share
5. Choose the people you want to share the folder with, and select the permission level. The following image
shows the screen where you can grant access to other users in the workgroup.
6. While granting access to other users, you’ll need to create their usernames and passwords on your own
computer. This is the only way these users can be authenticated.

Sharing a folder with your workgroup

Workgroup challenges for large organizations and the need for Active Directory.
Workgroups are not suitable for larger work environments for two main reasons:

1. They don’t scale well: If the network is small, it’s fairly easy to control a workgroup. However, imagine a
scenario in which there are more than 15 computers. It would be time-consuming and tedious to create
usernames and passwords by visiting each computer. Now imagine a corporation with more than 5,000
computers. It would be next to impossible to manage user accounts through a workgroup.
2. Passwords do not sync automatically: If a user has changed their password on their own computer, the
change won’t be reflected in the other computers they may try to access on the network. When
prompted to enter their username and password when trying to access other computers, they’ll then
need to input the old username and password to gain access.

Workgroups are great for smaller networks, but they aren’t efficient for larger ones. For large networks, it’s vital to
keep all the usernames and passwords in sync with each other. To do this, you need a centralized database that
manages all usernames and passwords, called Active Directory.
Note: A client PC cannot belong to a workgroup and a domain at the same time. If a client joins a domain, its
workgroup membership will be automatically removed. The reverse is also true.
Workgroup vs domain

Workgroups are great for small office networks with 15 or less computers. However, they aren’t ideal for larger
companies with hundreds or thousands of users, as it will become difficult to access files and folders of one
computer with another computer. Simply put, AD workgroups are fine for small offices, but they are not efficient in
scaling to big organizations.

So, for big environments, we need to set up a client-server network environment. In Windows, this is achieved by
setting up domains. The domain set up ensures better security as we can give varying degrees of permissions for
different users or groups of users. Furthermore, we can deploy company-wide policies for easier administration in
a domain than a workgroup.

How to change workgroup in Windows 10?

To change a workgroup in Windows 10 and make your computer a part of another workgroup, you can follow
these steps:

1. Right-click on Start, and click on System.

2. Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, select Change Settings
3. Under the Computer Name tab in the System Properties window, click on the Change button.
4. Under the Member Of tab, change the Workgroup name to the new one.
5. Click on OK to confirm your action.
6. Reboot your device when prompted.

You computer should now be part of the new workgroup.

Difference between a Domain and a Workgroup

In the present day scenario, the computer network is spreading vastly. In various situations, we need to sub-
divide our network into multiple small networks to easily administer and manage the network and its resources.
These goals can be easily achieved by creating a network domain or workgroup in computer networks.

Both domain and workgroup can be used to group the computers to sub-divide the network. But, they have
different functionalities and applications. So in this blog, we’ll learn about domains and workgroups in a
computer network. We will also see the applications and differences between these two in detail.

Now, let us first learn about these two terms one by one.

Domain
A domain can be seen as a logical grouping of computers or devices on the same or different kinds of
networks. Each computer on a domain is administered by a centralized server that manages each computer
within a domain. These network domains are uniquely identified using unique domain names that are assigned by
a domain controller. A domain controller acts as a server within a domain for the domain hosts and provides the
authentication services, domain names, and various functionalities to them. One of the major functionality of
using a domain is secure access in which no other computer outside the domain can access the domain
computers. The domain controller can also be used as a centralized database for storage which can be shared by
all the devices over a particular domain.

A host computer can be added to a domain via LAN, WAN, or VPN. A computer connected in a domain can access
any computer on that domain to access their files and resources. On the Internet, network domains can be
identified using the IP address. If two devices share some common part of the IP address, they are said to be in a
common network domain. For example, if two devices have IP addresses - 192.168.10.2 and 192.168.10.3, then
they are said to be in the same network domain. A domain can have multiple sub-domains. A router can be used
to connect different networks and sub-domains.

A domain has centralized control over the devices in the domain. It also has some features like reliability,
scalability, etc. There is a need for some specialized software for creating and managing domains. Most of the
O.S. provides some inbuilt software for these purposes. Domains are mainly used in a ‘ Client-Server’ model and
are beneficial when the number of computers is very large. A network domain can be mainly used where we want
to sub-divide the network, and also want to join multiple networks having different architecture.

For example, in an organization, if we want that all the computers can share the resources of one another and
have their full access. Also, we need some centralized control over the devices, then we can achieve these goals
by creating a network domain and adding all the intended devices to it.

Workgroup
A workgroup is a collection of autonomous computers that are connected over a network and can share
common files, resources, and responsibilities with one another. It is approximately the same as a workgroup,
i.e., it can be used to sub-divide or categorize a network. But the main difference is that it has no centralized
control over the devices in the workgroup. It can be implemented to sub-divide a large network into workgroups
for better management.

A workgroup name is not provided by any server. Also, there is no dependency on any hardware components for
assigning workgroup names. In general, we provide some workgroup names to some devices, and they start
working as a workgroup.

A workgroup mainly implements a peer-to-peer networking model , where each computer is autonomous having
its own user account and permissions, memory, and are equally important. Also, these computers are not so
secure. They have local security, i.e., each device maintains its own security. It may also happen that one
computer in the workgroup may not have access permissions to all the computers in that particular workgroup.
Every computer has to maintain its own user accounts and access permissions.
A workgroup can have the computers of the same network only. These computers can be connected using
a hub or a switch . It is very easy to install and configure and is beneficial for fewer computers only. Most of the
O.S. provides some inbuilt software for creating and managing the workgroups. A workgroup is beneficial to be
used in small local area networks like schools, colleges, buildings, etc.

Following are the differences between domain and workgroup:

 Installation and Configuration: A domain is complex than a workgroup to install and configure. On the
other hand, a workgroup is easy to install and configure, but it is very hard to maintain.
 Networking Model: Domain is based on a client-server model , where multiple clients rely on a single
server for various services. On the other hand, a workgroup is based on a peer-to-peer model where
each computer is equally important.
 Administration and Management: A domain has centralized control over the device. On the other hand,
the administration and management of a workgroup are non-centralized in nature.
 Database: The computers in a domain have a centralized database. On the other hand, each computer in
a workgroup mainly has its own local database.
 Autonomous: The devices connected in a domain are not autonomous, they are governed by centralized
servers. On the other hand, the devices connected in a workgroup are mainly autonomous in nature.
 Naming: In the case of a domain, the domain names are provided by the domain controllers on the basis
of IP address . On the other hand, there are no dependencies on any hardware components and server
for assigning the workgroup names.
 User account and groups: The user accounts and groups are manages and maintained on the domain
level. On the other hand, in a workgroup, it is managed and maintained by every computer of the
workgroup individually.
 Location: A domain can be formed using the devices of one or more different networks. On the other
hand, the devices of the same network can only be added to a workgroup.
 The number of computers: A domain can work better when there is a large number of devices
connected to it. On the other hand, a workstation can work better with fewer computers.
 Scalability: A domain has a centralized control and is easy to scale. On the other hand, a workgroup is
very hard to scale due to no centralized control. The complexity enhances when we increase the number
of workgroup computers.
 Security: A domain has very advanced security due to centralized control. On the other hand, a
workgroup is very less secure due to no centralized access control.
 Data Recovery: Data can be recovered in a domain from the centralized storage. On the other hand,
data recovery is not possible in a workgroup due to the local storage of each computer.
 Type of data: A domain is mainly used to transfer and share sensitive and important data due to
security. On the other hand, a workgroup is used to share less secure and personal data only due to less
security.
 Application: A domain is mainly preferred for large public and business networks. On the other hand, a
workgroup is mainly preferred for small local area networks like schools, colleges, buildings, etc.
Workgroup computing refers to any computer system that replicates the manual work process. Anytime two or
more people work together sharing information on a computer system it can be defined as group computing. It is a
way to electronically process human transactions. The focus is on information sharing, coordination and
collaboration. When two people manually send letters or memos to each other, it is called a workgroup process.
When two people send the same letters or memos using e-mail, it is referred to as workgroup computing. Any
software that supports workgroup computing can be labeled as groupware.
 Workgroup computing is about working with other people in an electronic work environment. This collaboration
can take place in offices located next to each other or in different parts of the world. There are three different
levels of group computing:

 Individual level - On this level the members individually work toward a group goal but there is no group
coordination. Members use word processors, spreadsheets and databases, but do not coordinate their efforts.
Here, we find duplication and lack of sharing of work that oftentimes produces inconsistent results.
 Coordinated effort – On this level, the members coordinate and actively manage the flow of work by structuring
work processes. It goes beyond individual automation and provides a structured work environment. The structures
are the processes that need to be completed for a legal function. It focuses on the communication in the
transmitting and receiving of messages. The basic tool for information sharing is e-mail. There are no time and
place barriers. It pushes information to others. Other tools that support these coordinated efforts are schedulers,
project managers, shared databases, and workflow automation software. This may require some development or
customization of commercial software packages.
 Collaborating - Members here make concerted efforts for information sharing, discussions, and obtaining other
information as needed. It pulls information from many different data storage areas for use by all the team
members. It is a “virtual” workplace that allows collaborative information exchanges without the constraints of
time and space. Shared whiteboards, electronic brainstorming, shared editors, electronic conferencing, and
electronic voting are technology tools that are supportive of this group dynamic.