Win 2003 AD vs. local users on Server

[jhoppe]

Hey guys,

I've got a question on Windows 2003 Server. I am working with a client where all of the users log on locally to their PC, but access shares on the 2003 server, so the 2003 server has a local user account setup (im guessing with the same password as the local machine accounts). If this is the case, it would probably be more effective to just create the users from now on in Active Directory and not to worry about local users... Am I missing something with what the previous tech did?

My plan is to run dcpromo, create the domain, create all of the local users as domain users, bind all of the workstations to the domain and make sure all of the file shares are able to be accessed with the new AD accounts...

Does that sound like a plan?

 

[tartis]

You will also need to move each user's data and favorites to the new AD accounts. The first time a Domain user logs into the local machine, it will create a new DOMAIN\User account with new favorites, clean desktop, etc..., with no rights to the old My Documents. Microsoft has a tech document on how to migrate your old user accounts on the local PC.