Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-640): Configuring Windows Server® 2008 Active Directory® (2nd Edition)

Chapter 5. Configuring Computer Accounts

Computers in a domain are security principals, as are users. Computers have an account with a logon name and password that Microsoft Windows changes automatically every 30 days or so. They authenticate with the domain. They can belong to groups, have access to resources, and can be configured by Group Policy. And, like users, computers sometimes lose track of their passwords (requiring a reset) or have accounts that must be disabled or enabled.

Managing computers—both the objects in Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) and the physical devices—is part of the day-to-day work of most IT professionals. New systems are added to the organization, computers are taken offline for repairs, computers are exchanged ...