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Old 10-27-2004, 09:33 PM   #1
benobi
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Samba Primary Domain Controller for a Windows XP network


Currently, I'm having a problem with my Windows XP workgroup. I have several computers in my household (around 9 or 10 at times). I have a print server on this workgroup as well. Hardware wise, I have a router that does all the DHCP stuff, and a bunch of 4 or 5 port switches connected to it splitting off connections throughout the house. I have a Mandrake box that I use to play around with Linux, which is connected to this network as well.

My uncle travels back and forth between home and his work. At work, he has to join a different workgroup at work. When he comes home, he switches back to our workgroup. When he does this, he somehow loses access to all our shared folders as well as the print server, which is bs because when I shared my folders I made sure that folder had "Everyone" access. On top of that, he can't print which is his primary concern. He does however have Internet access when he jacks into our network.

Anyway, my friend said windows workgroups suck and suggested I set up a primary domain controller, and switch from a workgroup to a domain. He told me windows server 2003 can do this pretty easily with a wizard. However I don't feel like shelling out thousands of bucks for the server edition of windows. I then found out Samba can become the PDC for a windows xp domain. I found a few walkthroughs and I'm almost ready to try to set it up. Before I attempt to set up a PDC with Samba, I have a few concerns:

1. Will this even solve my problem?

2. I'm assuming the PDC has to be sucking electricity 24/7, if the PDC goes down, will the people in my household still be able to log into their respective computers? If they can't log in, can they still use their computers to do word processing, etc? Will they still have Internet access through the router?

3. My printer connected to the print server is not supported by Mandrake. It is supported in Windows. Currently I can print to this printer through my Windows boxes. If I set up a PDC using Mandrake with Samba installed, can I still print to my print server?
 
Old 10-28-2004, 01:02 AM   #2
neilman
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Just to be clear, your main problem at hand is: your uncle logs off his work network, and when he comes over to your house and connect to your home network, he cannot access certain resources, like shared drives and printers, correct?

What is the name of the workgroup that he joins at work? Is it named WORKGROUP? Also, what is the name of your Windows workgroup -- is it WORKGROUP? Also, what current solves the problem for your uncle? Does he have to do a reboot/restart of his notebook in order to access your resources, or is he cut off all together regardless of what you try?

When you mention that your uncle still has Internet access, that simply means that he is being granted a DHCP lease by your router. The gateway IP is being set, and he can reach the outside world. The crux of your problem lies in the fact that Windows sharing is unpredictable, regardless of hetero or homogeneous network (same client OS intalls or not) [that is my finding, at least .. I'm sure you've all experienced the I can't print over the network problem].
 
Old 10-28-2004, 01:36 AM   #3
benobi
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Yah pretty much. Our workgroup name is WORKGROUP. Not sure what his workgroup name is at work. He switches back and he doesn't have access to public (stuff with "everyone" access) resources (sometimes it takes a while before he can even see stuff in "My Network Places", he can't access the stuff even after seeing it). To fix it, basically involves a lot of random stuff. I run the "set up home or office network" wizard a few times, repair his IP, etc. I'm not sure exactly which step fixes it, which is quite irritating.

So I'm thinking of setting up a Domain instead of a Workgroup. And I'm really concerned about 3 things:

1. Will this even solve my problem?

2. I'm assuming the PDC has to be sucking electricity 24/7, if the PDC goes down, will the people in my household still be able to log into their respective computers? If they can't log in, can they still use their computers to do word processing, etc? Will they still have Internet access through the router?

3. My printer connected to the print server is not supported by Mandrake. It is supported in Windows. Currently I can print to this printer through my Windows boxes. If I set up a PDC using Mandrake with Samba installed, can I still print to my print server?
 
Old 10-28-2004, 07:11 AM   #4
andrewdodsworth
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Quote:
Originally posted by benobi

1. Will this even solve my problem?

2. I'm assuming the PDC has to be sucking electricity 24/7, if the PDC goes down, will the people in my household still be able to log into their respective computers? If they can't log in, can they still use their computers to do word processing, etc? Will they still have Internet access through the router?

3. My printer connected to the print server is not supported by Mandrake. It is supported in Windows. Currently I can print to this printer through my Windows boxes. If I set up a PDC using Mandrake with Samba installed, can I still print to my print server?
1. If you put shareable files on the PDC then you can control access to these using Samba very effectively. For XP to be able to log into domain it has to be XP Pro - XP Home doesn't have the domain stuff in it, however, you can still browse and attach to domain resources with Network Neighbourhood using a valid username/password so it's not the end of the world.

2. What the domain does is add another object to log into - you still have local users and passwords so you can still use your PCs with the PDC off but obviously can't access resources on the PDC.

3. You can still use Windows sharing on your printers - all you do is to define the allowable users as 'validated domain members' which then allows other machines to use it provided they are logged into the domain. You only need linux drivers if you want to print from the PDC itself.

I use Samba 2.2.8a as a PDC on a mixed WinMe/Win2K/WinXP network - there are a few gotchas you need to know before you start.

Good luck
 
Old 11-19-2004, 02:21 PM   #5
FiveFlat
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On a side note - you can print from your linux box if you have a dedicated print server (i.e. linksys or netgear print server box)
Just use CUPS and type in the IP address you assigned the server box and you're all set.
I've done it several times.
 
  


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