Linux Server, Windows XP Workstations, roaming profiles?

Hi everyone, I am looking not for a full explanation (although one
would be nice), but rather a link or pointer in the right direction.

Here's the deal. I have a new Linux server with 160 GB with perhaps
30 users. We just got 3 new Windows XP workstations, and I want to be
able to force Windows users to login to the workstations using their
Linux accounts. I also want users "My Documents" directory to be
mapped to their home directory (perhaps /home/username/documents/), so
when they move between workstations, they always have their files
there. Furthermore, I want amenities such as wallpaper and e-mail
settings to be preserved when they move between workstations.

Questions:

1) Can this be done? If so, how do you have a Windows XP box
authenticate against the Linux server? My guess is samba but how?
2) How do you do the tricks like the My Documents mapping, the
wallpaper, the settings, etc. so that each user experience is
consistent among different workstations?

I'm sure this is possible somehow, but I have been googling my mind
out and perhaps I'm not searching for the correct keywords (for
instance: "linux server" "windows workstations" wallpaper).

Any redirection (link, etc.) would be great! Thanks!

> 1) Can this be done? If so, how do you have a Windows XP box
> authenticate against the Linux server? My guess is samba but how?
> 2) How do you do the tricks like the My Documents mapping, the
> wallpaper, the settings, etc. so that each user experience is
> consistent among different workstations?
>
> I'm sure this is possible somehow, but I have been googling my mind
> out and perhaps I'm not searching for the correct keywords (for
> instance: "linux server" "windows workstations" wallpaper).
>
> Any redirection (link, etc.) would be great! Thanks!

You'll find all of the information in the Samba documentation. ; )

steve

Mike Shafer wrote:
> Hi everyone, I am looking not for a full explanation (although one
> would be nice), but rather a link or pointer in the right direction.
>
> Here's the deal. I have a new Linux server with 160 GB with perhaps
> 30 users. We just got 3 new Windows XP workstations, and I want to be
> able to force Windows users to login to the workstations using their
> Linux accounts. I also want users "My Documents" directory to be
> mapped to their home directory (perhaps /home/username/documents/), so
> when they move between workstations, they always have their files
> there. Furthermore, I want amenities such as wallpaper and e-mail
> settings to be preserved when they move between workstations.
>
> Questions:
>
> 1) Can this be done? If so, how do you have a Windows XP box
> authenticate against the Linux server? My guess is samba but how?

Yes, it can be done.
Essentially, you configure Samba to act as the PDC for your domain, and the
Windows workstations as systems on that domain. The Samba parameter
Security = User
will cause Samba to validate incoming usernames locally. You want to use this in
conjunction with the settings that cause Samba to act as the DC for your domain.
Best read the Samba-PDC-HOWTO that comes with Samba for all the details

> 2) How do you do the tricks like the My Documents mapping, the
> wallpaper, the settings, etc. so that each user experience is
> consistent among different workstations?

Again, this is covered in the Samba-PDC-HOWTO that comes with Samba.
Essentially, your Samba configuration will include a number of settings that
your WinXP workstations will recognize at user logon. These settings include
such things as location of the user's roaming profile and a login script, all
hosted from the Samba server. Your client XP machines will retrieve the user's
profile from Samba and update the XP %WINDIR%\Profiles\%USERNAME% with it's
contents; this includes desktop settings like wallpaper, start menu, etc, and
such other things as "My Documents" and other per-user XP directories.

WinXP will also map the "login drive" according to the samba settings, and
execute a Samba-hosted "login script" CMD file on the XP machine. This permits
you to dynamically update the XP system (add printers, update the registry,
execute programs, etc.) on the XP system as part of it's login process.

> I'm sure this is possible somehow, but I have been googling my mind
> out and perhaps I'm not searching for the correct keywords (for
> instance: "linux server" "windows workstations" wallpaper).
>
> Any redirection (link, etc.) would be great! Thanks!


--
Lew Pitcher

Master Codewright and JOAT-in-training
Registered Linux User #112576 (http://counter.li.org/)
Slackware - Because I know what I'm doing.