Switching between Domain and Workgroup often

Punkrulz

Somewhat eXPerienced
Joined
24 Dec 2001
Messages
790
Hey guys,

I think I've run into a situation where I would need to switch between a domain and a workgroup often. I have a work laptop, and while I'm there I will need to be on the domain so I could check email and stuff like that. I could VPN in, but that's more of a hassle than if I was on the domain.

When I'm at home, there are some things I have to be on the workgroup so that I could connect my laptop and desktop together over the network.

The problem I've seemed to run into is that if I'm at home, and I join the workgroup, I'm not going to be able to join the domain until I go back to work... Is there anything I could do to make this easier?

Is it possible to VPN in, and then join the computer to the domain that way?
 
Join a domain and when you login at work log into the domain. When you are at home log into the computer name.

However, there is no easy way to switch back and forth. Domains use net logon for AD.

You're likely to cause a bigger headache if you keep switching from a domain to a workgroup.
 
You're likely to cause a bigger headache if you keep switching from a domain to a workgroup.

seconded. can you log onto the admin account as that is a local account.
 
Yes I know that I am able to login to the local account. However, it seems that regardless the computer either has a setting that it's on the workgroup, or on the domain... not like saying, "Well logging into this account places it on the domain, and this account will be on the workgroup". I logged into the local account, and I had to move that to workgroup... then the login for domain went away. :/
 
GPO's from a domain/AD setting are applied to computers that are apart of the domain. If in fact you are away from the office and logging into the local machine GPO's are still applied. Newer GPO settings such as Windows Firewall have profiles for both domain and local.

If you are logging into the local machine your laptop is still apart of a domain, you're just using a profile saved locally instead of using profile settings from AD.

And of course, once you change to a workgroup the domain settings disappear.

But, as we said if you keep switching between a domain and a workgroup you are going to give yourself a bigger headache.
 
IMO, the easiest way, although it's a headache to maintain, is to dual-boot. Have a WinXP partition with domain access, have another with workgroup access. Since you power down between work and home anyways, it wouldn't be too bad. However, if you do this, I would recommend having a 3rd FAT32 partition, so that you can access critical files without running into permission problems. Or, configure proper NTFS permissions, but you won't have access to the group memberships from both OS's.
 
Actually,

I seem to be running fine having my laptop on the workgroup permanently, and using the same username / password combination I have for my work account. I guess the AD server sees the user/pass combo and it's all good? I don't know... but it's working fine.
 
Punkrulz said:
Actually,

I seem to be running fine having my laptop on the workgroup permanently, and using the same username / password combination I have for my work account. I guess the AD server sees the user/pass combo and it's all good? I don't know... but it's working fine.

Well, my guess is that when you are at work you are just logging onto your workgroup there as well. When you login locally, you are bypassing the domain, and you won't be receiving any of the functions that you would be if you were on the domain, (i.e. mapped drives, scripts, etc.)
 
Uhh. Uhh. When you authenticate you send not only your username and password but the domain you are apart of. If you try to open the Event Viewer and connect to a server I bet it fails.

However, if you were to connect your notebook to your company network there is no reason it wouldn't work (Internet access, email, etc.) depending on your network security. Your DNS server is going to hand out an IP address to any device that connects but AD will not authenticate it unless it is apart of the domain.
 
Last edited:

Members online

No members online now.

Latest profile posts

Also Hi EP and people. I found this place again while looking through a oooollllllldddd backup. I have filled over 10TB and was looking at my collection of antiques. Any bids on the 500Mhz Win 95 fix?
Any of the SP crew still out there?
Xie wrote on Electronic Punk's profile.
Impressed you have kept this alive this long EP! So many sites have come and gone. :(

Just did some crude math and I apparently joined almost 18yrs ago, how is that possible???
hello peeps... is been some time since i last came here.
Electronic Punk wrote on Sazar's profile.
Rest in peace my friend, been trying to find you and finally did in the worst way imaginable.

Forum statistics

Threads
62,015
Messages
673,494
Members
5,621
Latest member
naeemsafi
Back