What is the Difference between server and domain controller?

Answer 1

Server is a computer which serves files to other users or computers. A server can be a windows XP operating system also, but it does not have any security

Domain controller is a computer which controls other users or computers .A domain controller must have windows 2003 server operating system and need to configure as a domain. It has a Excellent security

Answer 2

DOMAIN

In Active Directory, a collection of computer, user, and group objects defined by the administrator. These objects share a common directory database, security policies, and security relationships with other domains. In DNS, any tree or subtree within the DNS namespace. Although the names for DNS domains often correspond to Active Directory domains, DNS domains should not be confused with Active Directory domains.

DOMAIN CONTROLLER

In an Active Directory forest, a server that contains a writable copy of the Active Directory database, participates in Active Directory replication, and controls access to network resources. Administrators can manage user accounts, network access, shared resources, site topology, and other directory objects from any domain controller in the forest.

Answer 3

Active Directory is called a directory service, it stores objects like users and computers.

A domain controller is the server running the Active Directory is called.

You can have multiple domain controllers for many reasons, like redundancy so should one server fail, people can still login in and access things like joined computers using another domain controller while the first server is being fixed.

Just is small example of how Active Directory is to be used:

Forest (abc.com)

Domain (newyork.abc.com)

Domain Controller D

Domain Controller C

Computer A, users can login to the computer using their account on using either Domain Controller D or Domain Controller C depending on different factors like location etc.

Computer B, same

Computer C, same

Domain controllers have rights to authenticate and authorize login of users in domain

Only one Domain Controller in a domain can handle can tasks like the Global Catalog.

Primary Domain Controller (PDC)

Infrastructure MAster

RID

Domain Master

all are domain controllers with specfic FSMO roles

Answer 4

The Database in RODC is read only, whereas Domain controller have Read/write copy of database.

RODC takes replication from Writable domain cotroller and it never replicate to other domain controller whereas writeable domain cotroller can replicate with other writable domain controller.