Re: [SLUG] Primary Domain Controller on a Samba / MS network = ?

From: SOTL (sotl155360@earthlink.net)
Date: Sun Mar 12 2006 - 08:45:32 EST


Thanks

SOTL

On Saturday 11 March 2006 06:19 pm, Ian Blenke wrote:
> SOTL wrote:
> > MUST one have a primary domain controller?
>
> I wouldn't have two domain controllers with the same Domain name that
> aren't primary/backup if that's what you're asking.
>
> You do NOT need do have a domain controller at all for Microsoft
> networking. Simple peer-to-peer networking works just fine.
>
> Granted, if you have a username that you want to use to map to any other
> machine, you will need to have a local account on each remote machine
> setup with that username/password for drive mappings to work.
>
> This is where a "Domain Controller" comes in. It allows all Backup
> Domain Controllers to replicate the SAM database from the Primary Domain
> Controller, effectively sharing the usernames/passwords among the
> machines in that Domain.
>
> Machines that are part of a Domain "join" the domain, and have entries
> that allow them to use the Domain Controllers for authentication.
>
> Using a Domain is really the "old way" to share authentication
> databases. Today, Microsoft servers use Active Directory Services
> (typically referred to as AD) for the user authentication and shared
> naming services.
>
> AD is based on DNS/Kerberos. It provides a PDC/BDC compatibility layer
> for migration from "legacy" Domain Controller networks. Some of the AD
> servers act as PDC "gateways" for legacy networks to use until they are
> upgraded to use AD natively.
>
> > The issue is not MAY one have a primary domain controller but MUST one
> > have one? Is it possible to set up all the Samba boxes as non primary
> > domain controllers and have everything function correctly?
>
> If you wish to use a Domain for user authentication, you will need a
> Primary Domain Controller. You only want one Primary Domain Controller
> for any given Domain.
>
> If you don't want to use Domains, you do NOT need a Domain Controller.
> You can use peer-to-peer networking and merely setup local accounts on
> all of the servers that you want to connect to.
>
> The default mode for Samba is to run in a peer-to-peer capacity. This
> is probably what you're looking for.
>
> If you're talking about the name that shows up in Network Neighborhood,
> you can set the same "Workgroup" name on all of your peer-to-peer
> configured boxes. A master browser will be elected after a while, making
> Network Neighborhood browsing bearable (B-node announcements will be
> learned and \\MAILSLOT\BROWSE will get populated on the master browser
> elected box).
>
> If you run a Domain controller on a segment, do NOT try and use that
> Domain's name as a "Workgroup" name on non-Domain configured
> peer-to-peer boxes. The domain controller _will_ win master browser
> elections, and non-Domain members will not appear.
>
> There are all kinds of weird behavior modes with Microsoft networking.
> You will learn in time to hate them as I do.
>
> I blame IBM and Xerox for starting this SMB mess, and Microsoft for
> munging it year after year to suit their needs.
>
> http://samba.anu.edu.au/cifs/docs/what-is-smb.html
> ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/developr/drg/CIFS/
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