Information about Workgroup mode and about Domain mode in Microsoft Message Queuing (884974)

MORE INFORMATION

When Message Queuing works in Domain mode, Message Queuing connects to the Active Directory directory service. Therefore, Message Queuing must be installed on a domain controller. Message Queuing 1.0 works only in Domain mode.

Message Queuing 2.0 and later versions work in Workgroup mode. In Workgroup mode, Message Queuing is not connected to the Active Directory directory service and is not installed on a domain controller.

Requirements and limitations

Domain mode	Workgroup mode
Must be installed on a domain controller.	No domain controller installation is required. Message Queuing is installed only on the computers that use Message Queuing.
Full access to all the features of Message Queuing.	Not available in Message Queuing 1.0.
	Uses direct format names, not path names.
	Features only private queues.
	The queues must be created and managed on the local computer.
	No built-in encryption and authentication security features.

Benefits and drawbacks

Domain mode	Workgroup mode
Benefits
Security features, such as encryption and authentication, are included.	The load on the domain controller is reduced.
Path names are permitted. This may make the code clearer. For example, if you send a message to a non-existent queue, you receive an error message.	Administration is simpler. The Active Directory administrators do not have worry about the domain controller going down.
Public queues can be accessed. Dynamic queue lookups are supported.	The features that are available are sufficient for most applications.
	The code that is written to workgroups is mode-portable. The code works on computers in Domain mode, in Workgroup mode, and on computers that are members of different forests.
Drawbacks
The load on the domain controller is increased.	The built-in security features are not available.
The Active Directory administrators may be reluctant to install Message Queuing 2.0 and later versions on a domain controller.	Dynamic queue lookups are not available.
Problems may occur if a domain controller goes down or becomes inaccessible.