Domain Logon with Laptops

[SimpleSi]

HELP!!!

I took over a school 2 weeks ago with a W2k3 server setup with all the machines as domain clients including the teacher laptops.

 

System been in twelve months, no documention, nol support, ICT co-ord's being winging it for last year

 

I wasn't too worried as I thought I slowly work out wha tthe setup is but they are now being Ofsted'd next week and little issues like the teacher can't print from their laptops (and never could according to them) are proving a bit of a problem

 

Main desktop machines seem to work OK (except for OTT user restrictions) but I've never had teacher laptops connected to a domain before and I realise I've lost the plot somewhere

 

The laptops have normal 3 logon boxes with bottom one allowing them to logon to domain or the local machine.

 

However, even when not connected to network, the teachers just enter their domain credentials and the laptop lets them in.

 

I'd always thought that things didn't work that way but they obviously do.

 

What is going on - how/why can they login - on my other domain setup- if a machine can't see the network - it gives a warning message but nothings happening here

 

HELP!!!

 

regards

 

Simon

PS Got 7 belkin AP's all on overlapping channels and some in the false roof that I haven't even physically found yet!!!

[mattx]

Users logging in with a cached profile ?

Do they have a networked and non-networked hardware profile ?

[SimpleSi]

mm - cached profile ??

 

I've heard of roamaing, manadatory and default but not cached!!

 

better look into that then

 

regards

Simon

[tarquel]

cached = i.e. after the user logs off of the network, the profile is left behind on the client

 

I assume he means

 

Basically, with no folder redirection or roaming/mand profiles, it just takes the default profile off of the computer but leaves it there when they log off.

 

I only have roaming profiles disabled for laptop users - and only because the staff use them off of the network.

 

Nath.

[chrbb]

My teacher's laptops use cached profiles so they can logon at home using the same username etc so they can use the same 'my docs' etc. They also have a local admin to use if neccessary.

[mattx]

cached = i.e. after the user logs off of the network, the profile is left behind on the client

 

I assume he means

 

Indeed - a good explanation.

[mattx]

They also have a local admin to use if neccessary.

 

Yikes !!!

[tarquel]

 

I found it most amusing trying to get the new teacher here to understand that he just logged in "as usual" i.e. meaning not choosing the local computer 'domain' and leaving it where it was lol

 

- "but im at home!?"

- "yes - and it works the same way as being in school minus that you dont have access to any network drives"

 

Nath.

[chrbb]

local admin installing own printer etc- very tightly tied down on network though.

[SimonC]

re: can't print from laptops

 

Do the laptops have printers installed? if yes are you running local or network printers?

[Ric_]

@Si: Just lift any policies preventing the addition of printers and then they can search AD for a printer. This will get you up and running quick smart

 

I use a combination of cached profile and offline folders on all my teacher laptops. Works a treat

[alonebfg]

with printers we have great fun as teachers at our school do the same but they come in already logged in plug in the network cable and wonder why they cant print. I have told them if they do this they will ned to do a network Sync befor they can print but some of them still wont have it.

[bishopsgarthstockton]

If i was close by, i would have popped over to give you a hand. have you managed to sort it out yet?

[SimpleSi]

Thanks for all the info (and offer of physical support - ).

 

The ones that can logon to the domain - I've just added the printer via the AD search method - Ta.

 

And some of the others have never been configured to logon to domain (they wern't in the school when the rest were done and the firm that installed the server supposedly has not been back!!) so I just got the going by directly printing to the printer's IP .

 

I didn't want to try and mess around with them too much just at the moment

 

Managed to find the APs in the false roof and remove them - seems like these 2 were put in originally and then another firm came in and added 5 others but didn't bother reconfiguring the old ones

 

I don't know whether these stories are true but its certainly a fine mess Stanley

 

And managed to cable up the teacher laptop that doesn't work wirelessly at all

 

All teachers can now print

 

regards

 

Simon

 

PS @chrbb

My teacher's laptops use cached profiles so they can logon at home using the same username etc so they can use the same 'my docs' etc.

 

How does that work then if My Docs is redirected to the server when at school - or do you not redirect?

[chrbb]

Don't redirect - I just meant with xp having different my docs for all users if they logon as local admin they have a different my docs to the one they use when logged on as user at school. I do make a shortcut though so they can use the same folder for both.

I don't redirect because they fill my docs with photos music personal stuff etc. But they have a folder to save into on their laptops which backs up to their drive on the server, when they run a batch file, that way only work data is stored on the server.

[eean]

How does that work then if My Docs is redirected to the server when at school - or do you not redirect?

You really need to redirect the my documents folder otherwise it will download their entire my documents folder with the profile every time you log on. So redirect them to the network, then make them available off line.

By default, all redirected folders are automatically made available off line - basically, it will keep a copy of all the network files on the local machine. When the network it not there, the computer will automatically use local copy. When you get back on the network, you just double click on the little flashing computer in the system tray and it will copy all the changes made off line back onto the network. When you log off, it will scan the network copy for any changes to copy back onto the local machine.

 

You will probably want to disable offline files on all your fixed network machines though.