Domain name for home server?

Question

Can you create a domain with out having to use the internet were people get authenticated by the home server? If so How and how can you get the server to authenicate users?

Answer 1

No, the domain name is so those on the external internet can locate your home network, or rather your server and then the home network. It doesn't provide for authentication via an intranet, or a private network. You could create this type of authentication though with what you already have. You can setup monitoring of certain events, and then view those events in Event Viewer. If you want to check out who logged on set that up through the security log. I think you need XP Media Center, Pro, Vista Ultimate, Business, Enterprise. I am not certain if you can do this with Vista Home Premium though. You would need to check that OS version for this specific functionality.

Your home server isn't a normal server, unless you use a real Server OS. I am understanding you to mean the Windows Home Server OS. Windows Home Server isn't capable of creating a normal domain, the domain name is a courtesy only, and does not have the same functionality. This domain name is only for accessing the server and computers on the network from an external location. I mean from any computer not connected to your home network subnet.

You could go to the Home Server forum and ask questions about its use there. You can also search all the hundreds or thousands of questions already posted.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/product...

There is a lot of information at the link above. Check out the communities and see if that helps get your question answered.