Do you have to have Windows Server in order to use active directory?

Question

as in can i run a active directory on xp?

Answer 1

Yes. Only a Windows Server machine can be an Active Directory domain controller. Windows XP machines can only be members of an Active Directory domain.

Answer 2

no you cannot run active directory on windows XP but XP can still be a part of the Active Directory as Workstation. Only Server OS can handle Active Directory like Windows 2000 server or 2003 or the latest windows server 2008.

Answer 3

Yes, Active Directory was created for Microsoft servers. Any server running on Microsoft 2000 or newer should be able to handle Active Directory. FFT: Back in Afghanistan all of our servers and LAN manager laptops ran Active Directory.

Answer 4

you must have windows server version you can not run AD from xp systems.