prefer a pc to backup notebook

[Guest]

Re: preparing backup pc for notebook

Hi. my friend uses a WinXP Notebook and signons as a Domain user at work.
The domain server runs Win2000. Because of the need to work from home (read
emails for instance) sometimes, he was also given a VPN account. One day he
couldn't work at home because the battery was flat and he didn't have its
charger. He wanted to use his home pc (that runs Win2000) instead. He asked
his brother to install his home PC as a backup but asked me for advice. I am
not a server system administrator but I thought that is possible. Because if
a user got all the information regarding email (location for Exchange Server
for mail server) setup, vpn setup data, machine ID of the notebook, domain
name, etc. a user could always connect a cloned machine and logon to the
Domain via vpn.

Am I right to say this: "although it is better to advise the Administrator
prior to the move, technically the system administrator guy couldn't tell if
a "cloned notebook" is in use or not." (Assuming the machine ID of the backup
PC would be set the same as the notebook)

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: preparing backup pc for notebook

Hi. my friend uses a WinXP Notebook and signons as a Domain user at work.
The domain server runs Win2000. Because of the need to work from home (read
emails for instance) sometimes, he was also given a VPN account. One day he
couldn't work at home because the battery was flat and he didn't have its
charger. He wanted to use his home pc (that runs Win2000) instead. He asked
his brother to install his home PC as a backup but asked me for advice. I am
not a server system administrator but I thought that is possible. Because if
a user got all the information regarding email (location for Exchange Server
for mail server) setup, vpn setup data, machine ID of the notebook, domain
name, etc. a user could always connect a cloned machine and logon to the
Domain via vpn.

Am I right to say this: "although it is better to advise the Administrator
prior to the move, technically the system administrator guy couldn't tell if
a "cloned notebook" is in use or not." (Assuming the machine ID of the backup
PC would be set the same as the notebook)

This is correct. However, you won't be able to register the clone
on the office domain. As long as you know what you're doing,
this should not be an impediment.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Am I right to say this: "although it is better to advise the Administrator
prior to the move, technically the system administrator guy couldn't tell if
a "cloned notebook" is in use or not." (Assuming the machine ID of the backup
PC would be set the same as the notebook)

Be very careful, here. If the domain administrator knows his stuff,
and has taken basic security precautions, then he'll have his VPN
configured to ensure that any machines attempting to log access his
network have the correct MAC addresses - not something easily forged.
Any unauthorized computer making the attempt to connect should be
treated as a hacker, and, depending upon locale, could even result in
the initiation of a criminal investigation.

--

Bruce Chambers

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