Is it possible to join a Windows server domain?

Question

Hi, We have a mixtures of Windows and Mac clients at school. We have recently had installed a Windows Server 2003. The windows all work well - but other than as a file server can I expect more from the macs? Is it possible to join the windows domain - and log in as different users so that different network drives are mounted at log in? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Hi, We have a mixtures of Windows and Mac clients at
school. We have recently had installed a Windows
Server 2003. The windows all work well - but other
than as a file server can I expect more from the
macs? Is it possible to join the windows domain - and
log in as different users so that different network
drives are mounted at log in? Thanks in advance!
Yes. The server does not have to be running Services for Macintosh.
If the server is running Active Directory, you'll have to work with the windows admin people to create the AD account.
Otherwise, you'll just hae access to the shares.
On the Mac, I think the AD options are under Directory Services.
To map drives at login, the easiest way is to write an Applescript, save it as an application, and add it as a login item.
I can't recall the exacy syntax, but for each drive, the script should look something like this:
Tell Application "finder"
try
mount "smb:\\windows.server.ip.address\sharename"
end try
You will get a user id/pw/domain prompt for each share.
For e-mail, assuming they use Exchange, you'll need exchange server 2000 SP 2 or higher with OWA, IMAP, and LDAP active on the mail server to be able to access mail through Entourage or Apple mail.
Otherwise, you'll be limited to Outlook Web Access.
Printing: Standard IP,LPR, or appletalk printer setup.