Managing Windows Server 2003 Computer Accounts

Once a computer account is created within Active Directory it can be configured using the properties window, just as you can do with group and user accounts. You can view or edit the properties of a computer account by right clicking the account and selecting the Properties option. The properties window for the account appears.

Some of the tabs are identical to those found under the properties of a user account. The General tab lists some basic information for the account such as the pre-Windows 2000 computer name, the DNS name, role of the computer, and a general description.

The Operating System tab can come in very handy if you want to know the operating system and service pack installed on a computer without having to physically sit down at the workstation. The Location tab provides you with a field to describe where the computer is located within an organization. Hmmm… what if you received a help desk call in a large organization to come and take a look at a specific computer problem? This would be a simple way of reminding yourself where in the building or which office its located in (of course you have to be diligent in typing in the location of the accounts as they are added). And finally there is the Delegation tab. From here you can specify whether or not the computer is trusted for delegation.

For those of you who have worked with Windows 2000 or Windows XP, you are probably familiar with the Computer Management tool. If you needed to access the Computer Management console on a workstation one of the things you could certainly do is take a walk and physically sit down at the computer. Or better yet, you could open the Active Directory Users and Computers console on your own workstation, right click the computer account and select the Mange option. This will open the Computer Management console so you can remotely manage the workstation.

One of the other useful options available in terms of managing computer accounts is moving them between containers. For example, you may organize your computers into containers based on their physical location. If a computer is physically moved from between locations you’ll probably want to move the account as well to reflect its new home. To do so, simply right click the account, click the Move option and select the container you want to move the account into.