Syncing passwords between Windows and Linux/samba

[Simon Skill]

Hi all,

Apologies if this is a dumb question, I'm a Samba newbie.  I have tried to
find the answer by searching the archives but it's hard to pick search terms
that work.

I have a Redhat 7.1 box ("A") connecting to a Windows NT server ("B") using
smbfs.  Our users have a working directory on each machine.  They need to
mount the folder on B into a folder in their home directory on A.  I have
done this easily enough using automount.
Each user has the same username on both boxes.  In their home directory on
A, there is a file called credentials that lists the username and password
of their account on on B.  This is used by mount/automount so that the NT
password does not have to be entered when the machine boots up, or when the
user accesses the mounted B-folder on A.

This setup is working fine, each user can get into their mounted directory
with no problems.
The issue I have though, is that when they change their password on the NT
server (every 45 days or so), the authentication stored in the credentials
file will be out-of-date, and they won't be able to mount the directory.  I
want to avoid them manually changing the file, and also avoid using a script
that they would need to run.

Is there another option?  Can the unix and NT accounts be synced somehow, so
that it doesn't matter what their password is on B, they can still mount it
to A?

I think I need to mention that I'm not running A as a Samba server, it is
only running the client tools.

Thanks,
Simon



Simon Skill
Systems Administrator
simon.skill at workingmouse.com

Workingmouse.com Pty Ltd	Phone (07) 3369 1933
45 Railway Terrace		Fax (07) 3369 1704
Milton, Queensland 4064		www.workingmouse.com 

Workingmice Onsite PC, Internet and Networking Solutions - Phone 1800 171
444
www.workingmice.com.au

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