[dba-Tech] XP Pro - Users - was Windows XP Home vs Pro

Hiya John.

Separate users is the way to go however the 'type' of user is the key.  Most
common scenario (in my experience):

When at business premises
------------------------------
* Laptop connected to network (DHCP - receives IP automatically)
* Machine is a member of the domain (see network admin)
* You log onto the DOMAIN using a DOMAIN user account (created by them on
the domain)
* DOMAIN user account is linked to an EXCHANGE mailbox to access those
emails
* You can still access web mail through browser, OR setup separate POP email
retrieval through your email client (or switch profiles in Outlook for
example)

When at home
----------------
* Laptop connected to home network or standalone. (DHCP or static IP
depending on your setup)
* You log onto the LOCAL MACHINE using a LOCAL user account (created on that
machine)
* POP Emails can be accessed as usual

That way you have 2 different users with different settings as required.
The advantage in using a domain account when at the business premises is
that it's easier to give you the necessary security and access permissions.
If they're using roaming profiles you can also log onto any machine at the
workplace and retain your settings if required.

If they're not willing to give you a domain user account then there's not a
great advantage in creating two separate local user accounts, although you
can keep your settings separate I suppose.  You'll still have a few minor
authentication issues when logging in at work with a local user account
(well - you should... If you don't then the network admin's probably not
doing his job too well!!)

Shouldn't have any issues when switching from home to work if using DHCP at
both ('automatically assign IP address' in network card TCP/IP settings).
This may alter depending on your home network set-up though...

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
A



-----Original Message-----
From: jwcolby [mailto:jwcolby at colbyconsulting.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, 14 July 2004 12:48 PM
To: 'Discussion of Hardware and Software issues'
Subject: [dba-Tech] XP Pro - Users - was Windows XP Home vs Pro

This is a discussion I need to participate in!  I just bought a laptop that
came with XP Home!  8-(

I am about to upgrade to XP Pro simply because a major client's network is a
domain ad I can't logon with my laptop there.  Having upgraded to XP Pro
(not done yet) I intend to then simply use my laptop at the site instead of
his machine to do dev on-site.  They like the idea because it frees up a
machine that they can give to someone else, plus it avoids the ever annoying
"could you sit over there... No, cause I need a specific setup on my
machine" issues.  I have already changed machines 3 times, with all the
setup for email, my libs, error handler wizard etc.  PITA!!!

I was talking with them though about getting my email there, using my
username at their company.  They use an email server (exchange server I
think) and Outlook whereas I use pop mail from my web server and Outlook.
Thus I need to connect to the Exchange server at the client, but to my Pop
server everywhere else.

His suggestion, which sounds appropriate is to create different users.  I
log in as a specific user (on my laptop) when at their site, and another
user at home and elsewhere.  This would allow me to set up their printers,
outlook to attach to their exchange server, mapped drives, printers etc for
that user, and a completely different set for home office.

Does this sound correct?  I am soooo ignorant about this stuff it is almost
embarrassing.  I have always just had a single user on my machines.

John W. Colby 
www.ColbyConsulting.com


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