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View Full Version : Setting up Users in SBS2k3 R2


Azhar
05-24-2007, 12:01 PM
OK here's the situation:

I run a Small Business Server 2003 R2 server with a couple of storage servers. We have about 70 users accessing it via remote desktop and tsweb terminal server.

Half are company employees. We have them grouped together in Active Directory as Internal User.

The other half are clients for companies we consult. We have these grouped in Active Directory as External Users.

They all have Remote Desktop membership in group policy which allows them to connect to the terminal server. Basically the only difference between Internal and External User is Internal has an Exchange email account, a network user folder, and Sharepoint access. External users do not have an Exchange account (their own companies provide them with email service), and they're set up on their own Sharepoint account as Contributor.

Here's what I'm trying to do: Whenever you create a new user in Active Directory, and they log into the terminal server for the first time, their desktop is being set up.. Internet Explorer icons, Primavera Project Management icon and so on.

Is there a way to make it so when you create an External User account, they get some program acess and shortcuts on the desktop different from Internal Users who has more program rights?

It annoys me to no end when I get calls saying that the icon on the external user's desktop keeps giving them access denied errors. I want them off the desktop when I create their account so they won't even see it to play with it.

twwabw
05-24-2007, 01:04 PM
Why even have your users log onto the desktop if (assuming they only need Primavera). Why not just set their RDP to lauch the app at logon?

Azhar
05-24-2007, 04:35 PM
RDP can be modified. Enviroments can be minimized, and they would still be able to play with whats behind Primavera.

But anyways, I'm posting to say I've found the setting I needed in Group Policy Management.

Make a new policy.. call it Desktop Options.. rightclick it and hit Edit..

you'll see all kinds of custom things you can do with that policy including start menu, desktop, run at login, scripting, etc etc..

I'm surprised I've never seen this before. I think its because Ive always played with existing GPO templates that I've not needed to make new ones or modify them.

Another alternative for those who's afraid to play with GPM is to use softwares and applets made by ScriptLogic (www.scriptlogic.com) which is an all-in-one interface that lets you play with GPO and AD and some other neat things hidden away in your server that you can modify (registry settings, etc).

Thanks for the suggestion though! =)