Windows 7 - Making Vista PC a member of domain-Profile

Asked By Mik

18-Jun-08 09:05 AM

Hi,

I need to go to a branch office and make several Vista machines members of
our corporate domain (they were set up as stand alone machines because we did
not a a VPN at the branch office, but now we do).  When I make the machines
members of the domain, what issues will I run into copying profile settings
(documents, printers, etc) into their domain account from their non-domain
account.

Thanks,

Mike

18-Jun-08 09:27 AM

Your only problems will come from additional settings made to their registry
or Policy (see GPEDIT.MSC) Your domain GPO should set all entries to
over-ride everything else. If all else fails, I would try creating a new
user account, and test it.

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Mark L. Ferguson

18-Jun-08 10:15 AM

How fast is the VPN? Do you have a domain controller at the branch office?
Have you successfully joined XP computers over the same VPN? Connecting
computers to an active directory domain can be a recipe for disaster which
has nothing to do with Vista.

If you are using a standard DSL or cable Internet connection for the VPN you
will run into speed problems with using Active Directory over a slow
connection unless you have a domain controller at the branch office. I
highly recommend you make sure the underlying infrastructure can support
active directory before you do this. Joining a branch office to a corporate
network is not as easy as just establishing a VPN.

As far as joining Vista computers to the domain here are some links that may
help.

http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/1bd36fc2-1fc6-4edf-847f-d4be4305516a1033.mspx?mfr=true

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742618(TechNet.10).aspx

As long as you are not using roaming profiles and the AD domain is at the
2003 level and up to date you shouldn't run into any problems joining a
Vista computer to the domain as long as the underlying network
infrastructure is sound. Getting the VPN routing, DNS, NETBIOS, etc.
configured so active directory works over it may give you fits. Vista itself
shouldn't be a problem.

--
Kerry Brown
MS-MVP - Windows Desktop Experience: Systems Administration
http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/

18-Jun-08 11:08 AM

That should have read:

Connecting computers to an active directory domain "over a VPN" can be a
recipe for disaster which has nothing to do with Vista.


--
Kerry Brown
MS-MVP - Windows Desktop Experience: Systems Administration
http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/

18-Jun-08 03:50 PM

Kerry,

I have a T1 on my end and 6 Mb DSL on the remote site.  I do not have a DC
at the branch office.  I have not tried to join any PC's over this VPN at all.
No roaming profiles, and my domain is at the 2003 functional level.  I am
running SBS 2003 with two additional DC's if that helps/makes a difference.
I have Sonicwall TZ-190 appliances on both ends.  I established the VPN last
weekend, and have connected to remote printers and figured that making the
Vista machines join the local network would be fairly straightforward.
Currently these users connect to the home office via Terminal Services.
What would be your advice, give the infrastructure?

Thanks for the info and any additional advice.

Mike