[Samba] XP/W2K on Samba 3

Doug VanLeuven roamdad at sonic.net
Thu Oct 5 03:44:27 GMT 2006


Aaron Kincer wrote:
> I am having trouble envisioning a network where people are constantly
> signing onto different computers (outside of schools and libraries). If
> users move around that much, perhaps a VNC/Citrix/Terminal Services 
> approach
> would be better.
>
> Roaming profiles are a solution to a problem that existed before email 
> boxes
> measured in hundreds of megabytes or even gigabytes. They will work (for
> Windows clients), but can bring your network to its knees. And as 
> mentioned,
> the mixing of client OS has an amusing effect sometimes.
Think certificates.  Certificates encrypt files, establish VPN's, sign & 
encrypt email, things like that.  There are long standing alternatives 
to local store for email.
The main and easiest way to keep one's certificates in windows is to use 
roaming profiles else manually export and import and manually renew.  
Actually kind of cutting edge, not a throwback to earlier times.

Users don't typically move around, but what if the hard drive fails?  
Does one roll out windows with something like ghost and consider 
workstations disposable?  If yes, the certificates and any private user 
data are lost.  System admins move around.  Want to use the machine in 
the conference room for a presentation.  Frequently easier with roaming 
profiles.

Regards, Doug



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