Share with non-domain computers?

I have a standalone windows XP computer on the same LAN as a windows 2003
domain. I need to share domain resources with this computer, but I am
reluctant to join the user and computer to the domain because it is important
that the user be able to leave the domain without having to copy her user
profile or build a new one.

I would like to know the options for sharing resources with the standalone
computer without joining it to the domain. Alternatively, if you can suggest
a method for adding and removing domain computers which skirts the potential
complications of creating new user profiles, that would be great.

I have a I do not want to join the computer to the domain because it is
important that the user be able to leave the domain smoothly, without having
to copy a domain profile to preserve personal settings.

Depends on how many resources the user is accessing. If it is many, she can
log onto the domain to create a new profile and you can then simply copy her
local profile she is used to over on top of her domain profile. Then when
she travels and she isn't on the domain she would simply get "Domain not
available" error but she would still be able to log on (this is the default
configuration) the computer to do her work. If it is just one or two
resources then create a local account on whatever remote server(s) she is
accessing with the same username and password on her workstation and she
will be able to access the resource. If this resource is Outlook she will
have to use OWA or Outlook RPC over HTTP.

--
Todd J Heron, MCSE
Windows Server 2003/2000/NT
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Note: I do not top-post or bottom-post so that my responses are always easy
to read in this forum and the Google Archives. This posting is provided
"as is" with no warranties and confers no rights.

This is not a unique problem. Many remote access (RAS or VPN) clients are
not domain members. You should be able to do this by putting the workstation
in a workgroup with the same (Netbios) name as the domain. If you set up a
domain account with the correct username/password for the user, the domain
should accept the logon credentials. If the workgroup and domain are both
called fred, then a workgroup login fred\user\password is accepted by the
domain if there is an account matching user\password in the domain.

"Kerry" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:2C46FC90-66F6-47BC-9ABE-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a standalone windows XP computer on the same LAN as a windows 2003
> domain. I need to share domain resources with this computer, but I am
> reluctant to join the user and computer to the domain because it is
> important
> that the user be able to leave the domain without having to copy her user
> profile or build a new one.
>
> I would like to know the options for sharing resources with the standalone
> computer without joining it to the domain. Alternatively, if you can
> suggest
> a method for adding and removing domain computers which skirts the
> potential
> complications of creating new user profiles, that would be great.
>
> I have a I do not want to join the computer to the domain because it is
> important that the user be able to leave the domain smoothly, without
> having
> to copy a domain profile to preserve personal settings.

Kerry,

Bill Grant had made a good suggestion that I have used a few times in the
past.

However, are you aware that once an XP Pro desktop has joined a domain, the
local accounts on the XP machine (along with all their profiles) will
continue to function as they did before (just be sure that at the logon
screen you choose <computer name> (this computer) from the log on to drop
down menu). If that machine should then be removed from the domain, the
local XP accounts will again continue un-effected.

This is the same for all NT based Windows operating systems (servers and
desktops) with the exception of domain controllers where local accounts are
disabled, and Windows XP Home which cannot join a domain in the first place.

The only scenario I can think of where joining a domain would effect local
accounts is if a restrictive domain policy has been defined that contains
computer settings - as these would effect all users that use the XP machine.

Paul.


"Kerry" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:2C46FC90-66F6-47BC-9ABE-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a standalone windows XP computer on the same LAN as a windows 2003
> domain. I need to share domain resources with this computer, but I am
> reluctant to join the user and computer to the domain because it is
> important
> that the user be able to leave the domain without having to copy her user
> profile or build a new one.
>
> I would like to know the options for sharing resources with the standalone
> computer without joining it to the domain. Alternatively, if you can
> suggest
> a method for adding and removing domain computers which skirts the
> potential
> complications of creating new user profiles, that would be great.
>
> I have a I do not want to join the computer to the domain because it is
> important that the user be able to leave the domain smoothly, without
> having
> to copy a domain profile to preserve personal settings.