Win 2K Server & local users on workstations

[Jim]

Local business has win 2K server, and 10 PCs networked.

A workgroup is used rather than a domain.

Currently, we are adding a local user to each PC, and
then adding the same user name to the server so that they
can access the server.

Question: Is this the correct way to configure users in
this environment ? I was looking for a User management
program on the server that adds users to the server, and
then allows same users to access the 10 machines.

Would that require that I establish and use a domain?

thanks for help/advice.

 

[Danny Sanders]

That is one of the benefits of having a domain. Add the users on the server
and they have access to the domain without adding them to the local
computer.

hth
DDS W 2k MVP MCSE

 

[Jim M.]

No Jim, there is no other way that I know of. In a workgroup setting, the
hard way is, unfortunately, is the only way.

My Info Systems team just went through a migration of 140 PCs running in a
workgroup to a domain. It was a headache at first but now it has already
saved us hundreds of hours of setup time. A domain is way superior to a
workgroup. In our workgroup setting, I was sometimes having to set up seven
to ten users on one machine and then adding the same users on a few other
machines. It would take up way too much of my time.

While your setup is still small, I would recommend migrating to a domain now
before you really start to grow. Not only would it make things easier for
you now, but save you a lot of time later on.

Jim M.