[Leaplist] centrally manage Windows XP Home?

[Ray]

Jason Boxman wrote:
> Is anyone doing any interesting centralization of management for Windows XP 
> Home based systems with Samba and any other friends?
>   
XP Home is very limited to what it can and can not do for networking.  
IIRC it has something like 4 - 8 shares max.  A share includes mapped 
drives, network printers, etc...  For windows networking power you need 
either win2k pro or winXP Pro, not winXP Home.  Home is not built to 
network.
> As far as I know, without a domain you're stuck using old school workgroup 
> based stuff.  I'd like to at least be able to mount a couple of Samba shares 
> at system start time.
>
> I'd be nice to centralize configuration of Thunderbird somehow; does it have 
> any tools for handling that kind of thing?  Each system ought to have the 
> same set of mail accounts.  It's a small business and people might roam 
> between systems sometimes.
>   
Again you are looking at doing something that requires a DC (domain 
controller) in order to get roaming profiles up and running.  this CAN 
NOT  be done with winXP Home.  you MUST use win2k pro or XP Pro for 
either of those options to work, plus you will need either win2k or 
win2k3 server running as a DC, thus using AD (active directory)
> Is it possible to sync up stuff like start menu entries and desktop icons, or 
> is that relegated also to the domain of using Active Directory?  I can't see 
> justifying buying three or four copies of XP Professional, so I'm stuck with 
> workgroups.
>
>   
see above.  as for buying 3 or 4 copies, just buy 1 corp. edition.  they 
come with 5 license and you are set.  again without win2k or 2k3 server 
and an AD  you are not going to be able to accomplish what you are 
looking for.
> I'd run Linux on every desktop, but there's a not insubstantial quantify of 
> proprietary domain specific software that only runs under Windows in play, 
> along with Quick Books Pro and the necessity of opening Office formats in 
> whatever the latest version may be.
>   
HUH???  you can get Quick Books Pro to run under crossover office with 
some distros without any issues at all.  as for the "Not insubstantial 
quantify of pro...."  huh?
> Also, are there any worthwhile things that might improve process workflow?  I 
> haven't messed with it yet, but I get the impression Google's Desktop Search 
> will search email?  Stuff like that for Windows would be useful.  (This mail 
> is all on IMAP, though.)
>
> Thanks.
>
>   
google desktop is not bad nor is their office suite they are producing, 
but what exactly are you looking to accomplish with google desktop search?


-- 
Raymond L. Brunkow
5th Degree Black Belt
Chief Instructor and Owner
Sun State Martial Arts
(407) 786-2525