So after installing Vista ultimate on my new HP workstation, I decided to set
it up on the domain. I did the following:

1. Ensured my router used the same static ip reservation as they one I
assigned to my workstation. Reason is because router is assigning dhcp not
the single AD Domain controller on this network. Since the router is sending
out anything but an ip; I have to set IP up manually. I used correct ip and
subnet and pointed the gateway to the router. Then I set the primary DNS
setting to the internal root AD Domain Controller.

2. Right clicked Computer on the desktop and chose properties. Then under
'Computer name, domain, and workgroups settings' I clicked Change Settings
and then Change on the popup window that came up. Under 'Member of', I
clicked on the Domain: radio button and typed in the name of the domain I
wanted to attach to. Then I clicked OK.

3. Created a computer account on the AD Domain controller and a user account
as well. I used the exact same name and password as the login name I used to
login to the Vista workstation. Control Panel, User Accounts, Manage your
Network Passwords, added the domain and domain username and password (though
both are the same).

Now I log on to the Vista workstation using the default login id the syntax
of which is: <computer name>/<username> and I can explore the AD Domain
server drives I have rights to through explorer without being prompted for
credentials. I can surf the web. I don't see any problems.



BUT WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, IS THIS SETUP comparable to simply joining an
XP computer to a domain and logging into it? This Vista networking appears to
be much more complicated.