Domains in Group Policy Management Console

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Domains in Group Policy Management Console

Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) supports management of multiple domains at the same time, with each domain grouped by forest in the console.

For information about GPMC in a multi-forest environment, see Forests in Group Policy Management Console.

Adding and removing domains

By default, only a single domain is shown in GPMC. When you first start GPMC using either the pre-configured snap-in (gpmc.msc) or a custom MMC console, GPMC displays the domain that contains the user account you used to start GPMC. When you add a new forest, GPMC displays the domain that was entered in the Add Forest dialog box.

You can specify domains in each forest that you want to manage using GPMC by adding and removing the domains shown in the console.

  • Adding domains

  • Removing domains

Adding domains

Under each forest, right-click the Domains node and click Show Domains. In the Show Domains dialog box, select each domain that you want to display in GPMC.

To add domains in another forest, you must first add the new forest that contains that domain.

You can add externally trusted domains, even if you do not have forest trust with the entire forest. By default, you must have two-way trust between the domain you want to add and the domain of your user object. You can also add domains across a one-way trust by disabling the trust detection feature of GPMC, using the Options dialog box on the View menu. To add externally trusted domains, you must first use the Add Forest dialog box to add one domain from a forest that contains the externally trusted domains. Once this forest is added, you can add any domains in that forest that are trusted by right-clicking the Domains node of the forest and clicking Show Domains.

For step-by-step instructions, see Add a forest, site, or domain to the Group Policy Management Console.

Removing domains

Remove domains from the console by using the Show Domains dialog box, available by right-clicking the Domains node. In the Show Domains dialog box, clear check boxes if you want to remove them from GPMC. You can also right-click an existing domain in the console and click Remove.

See Also

Concepts

Forests in Group Policy Management Console
Add a forest, site, or domain to the Group Policy Management Console