Using a Laptop on a Server 2003 Domain

[TalantMike]

I am currently in the process of switching over all of my employees from a workgroup to a domain on Server 2003. I currently use a laptop at work and then carry it home with me to work there as well. In the workgroup set up I was a part of the sharing network with the others. Can someone please give me some advice on what I should now do with my laptop. If I join the domain, then I will lose access to some of my files when I get home (I have a group policy set up to redirect My documents and application data to the server.) Not to mention, I would have to change my DNS to the server IP (As it is set up as my DNS)and everytime I go home I will have to change that to my ISP's DNS. What should I do in this situation? Thanks for the help in advance!

 

[markdmac]

Take a look at using Offline Files to give you access to your data.

For the IP stuff, why are you not using DHCP at the office? If you config everything for DHCP then your machien will automatically get the proper IP where ever you are at.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[TalantMike]

Due to my lack of proper knowledge, I am not quite sure I understand what you are asskig, but I will tell you what I do know about our situation. We currently have a 3com NBX, including a router, and IP office phones that connect to the network before the computers. That is what is using DHCP, separate from the Server. As I write this I realize what you are saying, I think. I can configure the router to assign the server IP address as the DNS, and then have the TCP/IP set to obtain automatically. Am I right on that? If that is what you are saying, then you are right! My only other issue is that I have a group policy that redirects all domain user's My Documents Folders to a share on the Server. Since it is a group policy, is there anyway to exclude myself? I may be wrong but I am assuming that if I have the redirection set up that I would not be able to access them from home? Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[markdmac]

Use the server to provide the DHCP instead of the phone system. Your phones can get the DHCP from the server, I have a customer doing just that.

Folder redirection will have no ill effect on you if you use Offline Files.

Just right click on the folder and choose "Make Available Offline" and you will have a cached copy locally that wil allow you to sync changes when you reconnect to the network.

Use XP help for info on how to configure and use Offline Files.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[TalantMike]

You got it. Great help Mark. I really appreciate it. I think this should work. I failed to read the snippit about offline files on the last post, so my apologies. Now, one lasst question, do I need to configure the router to stop assigning IPs, or do I simply need to do it at the Server level and that would then override if you will the router? Thanks.

 

[markdmac]

Disable DHCP at the phone system and enable on the server.

Should only have one DHCP system assigning addresses.

Note: do this after hours. The IP phones may need a minute to autoupdate.

The reason you will want to use the server over the phone system is that the server DHCP has mor scope options to distribute to the clients, so it is better integrated with the network.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[TalantMike]

Right. That makes sense. Now, one more for you if this is in your area. I need to make sure that the DNS forwarders are configured correctly. I can forward them to our ISPs dns, but is this only for queries that can not be resolved by my server DNS, or if there is too much load on my server DNS. Or does it mean that it fowards all queries no matter what? Also, I am a little confused about reverse lookup. What should I put there? I know that I need to do this as I am soon to implement PoP3 and SMTP and host our own email. I know that this reverse look-up is necessary if we do not want to be marked as spam all the time. Thanks again.

 

[markdmac]

You will put the ISP DNS in the local DNS Snap In on the Forwarders tab.

Your local server will answer all local requests (which the ISP knows nothign about) and will forward requests for Internet sites to the forwarders. The local DNS will then cache that inof for next time to speed up response times.

The RDNS entry will be configured in your PUBLIC DNS records, not your local ones (unless you are hosting your own public DNS which is rare). The RDNS entry will contain your public IP and your domain name.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[TalantMike]

I suppose that this has already been configured as all of the domain users connect perfectly well to the internet, so I have no worries there. I do thank you for the info though, as if I ever have an issue with that, I will no where to lookk. Thanks.