Workgroups versus Domains

[Guest]

I have about five workstations on a network with a Windows 2000 Server
server. The workstations were defined in a workgroup rather than a domain.
I "renamed" the workstations to put them on the domain instead of the
workgroup. I exported and imported the user profiles so that they retained
their settings on the domain when they log in.

PROBLEM: When the workstations were on the workgroup their logon time was
less than 30 seconds. Now that they are on the network domain, it takes five
minutes to logon (load their settings). Their settings (profiles) reside on
the local disk on each workstation, so I am perplexed as to why they take so
much longer (too long!) to logon. Please help.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I have about five workstations on a network with a Windows 2000 Server
server. The workstations were defined in a workgroup rather than a
domain. I "renamed" the workstations to put them on the domain
instead of the workgroup.

I'm presuming you mean you added them to the domain. Renaming doesn't do
anything.

I exported and imported the user profiles
so that they retained their settings on the domain when they log in.

OK, so you're using roaming profiles now?

PROBLEM: When the workstations were on the workgroup their logon
time was less than 30 seconds. Now that they are on the network
domain, it takes five minutes to logon (load their settings). Their
settings (profiles) reside on the local disk on each workstation, so
I am perplexed as to why they take so much longer (too long!) to
logon. Please help.

How big are the profiles? Keep them TINY.
Redirect My Documents to the user's home directory (easiest to do with group
policy).

Make sure your DNS is set up properly. All servers and workstations should
specify *only* the internal AD-integrated DNS server's IP address in their
network settings. The AD-integrated DNS server should be set up with
forwarders to your ISP's DNS servers for external resolution.

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