logs onto domain when it isn't there

[antdickens]

I noticed the other day that an XP Pro PC we had back for bench repair could log on as if it where finding the domain controller when it was not connected to any network.

Is this normal behviour. Obviously no mapped drives where available to use.

We currently set up laptops in a workgroup with the same name as the domain so they dont get any errors when logging on off site and they use the have the same profile wherever they log on.

Is it advisable to set these laptops to connect to the domain (not workgroup) so that when they are on site the run the log in scripts etc and when they are off site they dont get any errors and use the same profile???

 

[STEWARTH]

XP uses cached credentials to allow a domain user to log on locally even when a domain controller is not available. Yes if I were you I would set them up to always attempt to log on to the domain. Less hassle that way.

 

[bcastner]

As Stewarth said, this is normal behavior. I vote for setting up laptops this way as well. This allows your Domain Policy to be in effect while offsite.

 

[antdickens]

Great!

Would this work on win2k

 

[bcastner]

Yes.

 

[nlm9802]

note this is a good short term feature.. but you will get errors if people try to use it long term. not sure how long the cached accounts are good.. 90 days? After that the client will have to log in to the domain via a network cable to get access to their account.
good idea for take home work.
not necessarily good idea for a few clients in BFE with only dial-in access.

 

[bcastner]

Cached credentials do not expire. There is no time limit forcing a domain logon.

Passwords can have an expiration time setting, to force a password change by the user. Adjust this to something suitable for the mobile user.

 

[pounderarthur]

Cached profiles have been around for a while now - widely used with WinNT4 laptop users; however, if the user needs to be assigned admin rights then this must be achieved locally, (SAM).

A cached account just means that the information stored upon the system is correct as of the last time that the user was logged into the network - either physically or via Remote Access... Any other work is stored locally ...

One point of note is that if you're considering using a Chached profile upon a laptop then you may also wish to consider using an off-line folder, (OST) within MS Outlook, that will allow syncronisation with the mail server, of both the address book & mail, whilst the user is connected to the network - this will also reduce the download time of mail whilst using a Remote Connection

Arthur