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Create a new local area network (LAN)

  • Article

Updated: June 9, 2010

Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2

You can use the goals below to determine your preferred method for creating a new network.

  • Create a new domain-based network

  • Create a new workgroup-based network

Create a new domain-based network

To accomplish this goal, you can deploy Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) and install a new domain in a new forest. AD DS stores directory data and manages communication between users and domains, including user logon processes, authentication, and directory searches. An Active Directory domain controller is a server that is running AD DS.

You can select one of the goals below based on the operating system that you plan to use.

Create a new domain-based network using Windows Server 2008 R2

To accomplish this goal, you can deploy AD DS, Domain Name System (DNS), and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). For more information, see Windows Server 2008 R2 Core Network Guide at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=187534.

Create a new domain-based network using Windows Server 2008

To accomplish this goal, you can deploy AD DS, DNS, and DHCP. For more information, see Windows Server 2008 Foundation Network Guide at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=187532.

Create a new workgroup-based network

To accomplish this goal, you must make several goal decisions. A workgroup-based network does not include a central user accounts database, centralized authentication, or any of the other benefits provided by AD DS. The goal decision points that you must make are:

  1. Choose an Internet Protocol for your network

  2. Choose manual or automatic configuration of IP addresses on your network

  3. Choose a computer name-to-IP address resolution method

Choose an Internet Protocol for your network

You can use Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) version 4 or Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) to assign Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to computers on the network. In most cases, using TCP/IP v4 is recommended if you are deploying a private network. Many applications and services that are not included with Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 require TCP/IP v4 to function correctly. You can use the goals below to determine the IP version that you want to use on your network.

Note

In some circumstances, you might want to create a network that uses both IPv4 and IPv6. Review the documentation for these technologies to determine whether using both of these Internet Protocols is required to accomplish your goals.

Choose manual or automatic configuration of IP addresses on your network

Manually configure TCP/IP connections on all computers with IP addresses and other settings or use automatic IP address allocation with Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). You can use the goals below to determine the way to provide IP addresses to computers on your network.

Choose a computer name-to-IP address resolution method

Manually configure computer name to IP address mappings on each computer or provide automatic computer name-to-IP address resolution with either Domain Name System (DNS) or Windows Internet Name Service (WINS). In most cases, the ease of installation and operation of DNS or WINS on small networks is preferable to the difficulty of configuring and managing name-to-IP address mappings in individual hosts or LAN Manager hosts (lmhosts) files on each computer. If you are choosing between DNS and WINS, DNS is recommended because it provides the ability for you to scale your network, and because WINS is legacy technology that will eventually be retired from use. You can use the goals below to determine the way to provide a name resolution method for computers on your network.