Adding a domain'd laptop to my home network

[Guest]

Is there a way of adding my work laptop (running Win XP Pro and is set up for
a Domain) into my home network? I have established the network successfully
using the Network Setup Wizard on the desktop pc (Win XP HE) which has the
broadband modem attached to it, and it tells me to run the Wizard on any
other pc that I want to add to the network. However, the Wizard won't run on
my laptop because it's part of a domain. There was a similar question
posted some months ago, but I didn't understand the response, which was:

"As long as you have an IP address on the correct network at home and can
ping the other computers/gateway/etc, you can connect to resources on your
home computers ....don't change your domain setup.

One example, using a command prompt:

net use x: \\computer\share /user:computername\username

.....where the username is a valid user account on the computer you want to
access. Enter the password when prompted."

I'm not sure, from this, what exactly I should be doing on the laptop. The
home network name is MSHOME, the "host" computer is called DESKTOP. I sign
in to my laptop with username GUY and domain name I2B.

 

[Chuck]

Is there a way of adding my work laptop (running Win XP Pro and is set up for
a Domain) into my home network? I have established the network successfully
using the Network Setup Wizard on the desktop pc (Win XP HE) which has the
broadband modem attached to it, and it tells me to run the Wizard on any
other pc that I want to add to the network. However, the Wizard won't run on
my laptop because it's part of a domain. There was a similar question
posted some months ago, but I didn't understand the response, which was:

"As long as you have an IP address on the correct network at home and can
ping the other computers/gateway/etc, you can connect to resources on your
home computers ....don't change your domain setup.

One example, using a command prompt:

net use x: \\computer\share /user:computername\username

....where the username is a valid user account on the computer you want to
access. Enter the password when prompted."

I'm not sure, from this, what exactly I should be doing on the laptop. The
home network name is MSHOME, the "host" computer is called DESKTOP. I sign
in to my laptop with username GUY and domain name I2B.

Guy,

Using a computer, that's setup as a domain member, in a workgroup can present
several issues.
# Grouping of computers in a domain or workgroup.
# Resolution How do I address each resource?
# Browsing What resources are there for me to access?
# Authentication / Authorisation Who am I, and should I be allowed to access a
resource?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking.html

The bottom line - you can use your laptop on your workgroup, without changing
the laptop. Read the above article for details.

 

[Jack]

Hi
Assuming that you are allowed to "play" with the Laptop settings, and you
can log as an Admin.
May be this can Help, http://www.ezlan.net/faq#fewtcp-ip
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[Guest]

Chuck & Jack,

really appreciate you both replying. It certainly looks a complicated
business (for me, anyway). Am I correct in saying that the easiest thing is
to set up the home network with the same name as the domain name? I cannot
alter my laptop's domain name, but I can alter the home pc workgroup name.
(Incidentally, once you've set up a home network via the Wizard, how do you
rename or delete it?)

Guy.

 

[Chuck]

Chuck & Jack,

really appreciate you both replying. It certainly looks a complicated
business (for me, anyway). Am I correct in saying that the easiest thing is
to set up the home network with the same name as the domain name? I cannot
alter my laptop's domain name, but I can alter the home pc workgroup name.
(Incidentally, once you've set up a home network via the Wizard, how do you
rename or delete it?)

Guy,

That's the idea. In the browser context, the only time domain vs workgroup
becomes relevant is when the master browser is elected. Otherwise, a domain
member is the same as a workgroup member. Make the workgroup the same as the
domain, and the master browser for one will service the other.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking.html

Once you setup any home network, renaming the workgroup is done by changing the
workgroup names in all of the computers. There is no central workgroup control
- it's all peer to peer. You change the workgroup, on each individual computer,
from the System Properties (My Computer - Properties) wizard.

 

[Chuck]

Chuck & Jack,

really appreciate you both replying. It certainly looks a complicated
business (for me, anyway). Am I correct in saying that the easiest thing is
to set up the home network with the same name as the domain name? I cannot
alter my laptop's domain name, but I can alter the home pc workgroup name.
(Incidentally, once you've set up a home network via the Wizard, how do you
rename or delete it?)

Guy,

That's the idea. In the browser context, the only time domain vs workgroup
becomes relevant is when the master browser is elected. Otherwise, a domain
member is the same as a workgroup member. Make the workgroup the same as the
domain, and the master browser for one will service the other.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking.html

Once you setup any home network, renaming the workgroup is done by changing the
workgroup names in all of the computers. There is no central workgroup control
- it's all peer to peer. You change the workgroup, on each individual computer,
from the System Properties (My Computer - Properties) wizard.

 

[Guest]

Chuck, I tried setting up my home network with the same name as my laptop
domain. Whilst the network setup wizard completes ok (on the desktop), I
still cannot get my laptop onto the n/w - the n/w setup wizard won't run as
it detects that the laptop is part of a domain. Is there some other setup
routine I should be running? (Incidentally, let me check I'm using the exact
correct domain name: on the laptop, the domain name is "I2B" but when I
check in Control Panel...System...Computer Name, it's showing as "I2B.local"
so this is what I set the workgroup name to be when setting up the network on
the desktop. Which is correct?).

I noticed another thread 'Cannot re-name the full computer name' entered on
1/12/06. In the reply from 'Malke', attention is drawn to an article by
Charlie Russel entitled 'Managing One Windows XP-based Laptop for the Office
and Home'
(http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/learnmore/russel_02march04.mspx).
Firstly, regarding the paragraph 'Home Networking Scenarios', I'm not 100%
sure whether my setup is #2 or #3 - how can I determine for certain whether
or not I've got a DHCP server? I use the BT 1200 Home Networking kit, where
you plug the supplied ADSL Modem into the DSL-enabled phone line and into the
desktop, where the gateway software runs (2wire). I think DHCP is provided
by the gateway software, which tends to suggest I'm running 'a home network
with a DHCP server' - yes?

Assuming this is the case, then I'm concerned at the next section of the
article which talks about DHCP. It says "At home, few people are running
their own Windows 2000 Server acting as a DHCP server, but if you connect to
the Internet with a cable or DSL modem, or through an Internet gateway,
you're actually running a DHCP server on the modem or gateway. The modem or
gateway handles all the necessary details of sending the configuration
information to your laptop when you bring it home and you should be able to
just connect to the network and get on with your business.....". Well, yes
and no - I can connect the laptop to the Internet ok, but I can't connect
into my home network. He then goes on to talk about Alternate
Configuration, but is this relevant in my case? Will Windows XP notice I'm
not on the company domain and therefore automatically switch to use a
different set of TCP/IP settings (the Alternate Configuration)? My setup
is exactly as he shows in the screenshots, i.e. my Alternate Configuration is
set to Automatic private IP address.

So in summary, I don't know whether I'm near a resolution or not.

regards, Guy

 

[Chuck]

Chuck, I tried setting up my home network with the same name as my laptop
domain. Whilst the network setup wizard completes ok (on the desktop), I
still cannot get my laptop onto the n/w - the n/w setup wizard won't run as
it detects that the laptop is part of a domain. Is there some other setup
routine I should be running? (Incidentally, let me check I'm using the exact
correct domain name: on the laptop, the domain name is "I2B" but when I
check in Control Panel...System...Computer Name, it's showing as "I2B.local"
so this is what I set the workgroup name to be when setting up the network on
the desktop. Which is correct?).

I noticed another thread 'Cannot re-name the full computer name' entered on
1/12/06. In the reply from 'Malke', attention is drawn to an article by
Charlie Russel entitled 'Managing One Windows XP-based Laptop for the Office
and Home'
(http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/learnmore/russel_02march04.mspx).
Firstly, regarding the paragraph 'Home Networking Scenarios', I'm not 100%
sure whether my setup is #2 or #3 - how can I determine for certain whether
or not I've got a DHCP server? I use the BT 1200 Home Networking kit, where
you plug the supplied ADSL Modem into the DSL-enabled phone line and into the
desktop, where the gateway software runs (2wire). I think DHCP is provided
by the gateway software, which tends to suggest I'm running 'a home network
with a DHCP server' - yes?

Assuming this is the case, then I'm concerned at the next section of the
article which talks about DHCP. It says "At home, few people are running
their own Windows 2000 Server acting as a DHCP server, but if you connect to
the Internet with a cable or DSL modem, or through an Internet gateway,
you're actually running a DHCP server on the modem or gateway. The modem or
gateway handles all the necessary details of sending the configuration
information to your laptop when you bring it home and you should be able to
just connect to the network and get on with your business.....". Well, yes
and no - I can connect the laptop to the Internet ok, but I can't connect
into my home network. He then goes on to talk about Alternate
Configuration, but is this relevant in my case? Will Windows XP notice I'm
not on the company domain and therefore automatically switch to use a
different set of TCP/IP settings (the Alternate Configuration)? My setup
is exactly as he shows in the screenshots, i.e. my Alternate Configuration is
set to Automatic private IP address.

Guy.

You've asked a few interesting questions. Let's try diagnosing your problems,
so I have an idea where your problems are.

First, provide "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all" from each computer, so we
can diagnose the problem. Read THIS article, and ALL linked articles, and
follow instructions precisely:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

 

[Guest]

Chuck,

I changed the Workgroup name to "I2B" (dropping '.local') and the laptop can
now join the network! I've had both the desktop and the laptop up and down
tonight and the initial sign-in from the laptop persists so I don't have to
sign in every time to the desktop to see its shared files and printer. I
hope my experience may prove useful to everyone, specifically in that the
workgroup and domain names need to be the same, and you should ignore the
'.local' that the laptop adds to the domain name.

Many thanks for your help on this problem.

Guy. (PS my next challenge is to set the n/w up as wireless so I can add my
wife's laptop, you may not have heard the last of me yet!)

 

[Chuck]

Chuck,

I changed the Workgroup name to "I2B" (dropping '.local') and the laptop can
now join the network! I've had both the desktop and the laptop up and down
tonight and the initial sign-in from the laptop persists so I don't have to
sign in every time to the desktop to see its shared files and printer. I
hope my experience may prove useful to everyone, specifically in that the
workgroup and domain names need to be the same, and you should ignore the
'.local' that the laptop adds to the domain name.

Many thanks for your help on this problem.

Guy. (PS my next challenge is to set the n/w up as wireless so I can add my
wife's laptop, you may not have heard the last of me yet!)

Well, Guy, I'm glad that you got it solved. I thought the idea was to not
change the domain setup. But, if you can change membership, that's definitely
the way to make things work. Can you get the laptop back on the domain now?

 

[Guest]

Well, Guy, I'm glad that you got it solved. I thought the idea was to not
change the domain setup. But, if you can change membership, that's definitely
the way to make things work. Can you get the laptop back on the domain now?

Chuck, I'll let you know when I've next visited the office. I haven't
actually altered any setup on the laptop, so I assume all will be ok.

regards, Guy