Domain Compared To Workgroup; Managing Users And Groups Effectively - Compaq N2400 - TaskSmart - 1 GB RAM Administration Manual

3-2 Compaq TaskSmart N2400 Administration Guide

Domain Compared to Workgroup

Managing Users and Groups Effectively

TaskSmart appliances can be deployed in a workgroup environment or in a
domain environment. As previously mentioned, CIFS is a session-based,
stateful network file sharing protocol. When mapping a network drive or a
client machine, a user sends a logon credential to the server. This credential
includes the username, password, and if appropriate, domain information.
Using the credential, the server authenticates and provides the corresponding
access to the user. When a TaskSmart appliance is deployed into a workgroup
environment, all user and group account access permissions to file resources
are stored locally on the appliance. .
By contrast, an appliance deployed into a domain environment uses the
account database from the domain controller, with user and group accounts
stored outside the appliance. The appliance integrates with the domain
controller infrastructure
IMPORTANT: The TaskSmart N2400 appliance cannot act as a domain controller for
other systems on the network.
Effective user and group management is dependent on how well users and
groups are organized. Administrators typically create a small number of
groups on the network, and then assign users to the appropriate group or
groups. File system and share permissions can be applied at the group level,
rather than at the user level. Because the number of groups is small, assigning
the appropriate permissions to all users in a selected group, or groups, is more
efficient.
Although each organization has specific conventions, following certain
general guidelines makes administration simpler and more efficient. Because
CIFS is dependent on users and groups to grant appropriate access levels to
file shares, CIFS administration also benefits from a consistent user and group
administration strategy.