Workstation User Management¶
The AAltSys Server provides user security, which requires that all users authenticate their login information when accessing the server. User names and passwords which are stored in individual workstations must be entered in the server’s Zentyal administration system before users can access the server. Therefore part of server installation is collecting, and correcting, user account information from the workstations.
Identifier Standards¶
The following standards apply to user names, full names, and passwords:
- User names may contain only alphanumeric characters or the symbols
. ? & + : - @ - Spaces are not permitted in user names.
- Administrative users, “Administrator” and “Owner”, should not be used for logins.
- “Guest” should be disabled.
- All administrative and user logins must have passwords.
Windows User Management Issues¶
The following user account management problems are commonly found on Windows workstations:
- Administrative user Administrator or Owner has a user’s full name and is used as the primary login account.
- User “Guest” is being used as a login account.
- A user’s name contains spaces or prohibited characters.
- Several separate machines in a network list the same user name, with differing full names and/or passwords.
- A user name, full name, and home folder name are all three different.
- A home folder name, which cannot be changed by any entry process, does not match the user to whom it is assigned.
- Start ‣ Control Panel ‣ User Accounts displays the full name, but not the user name, for login authorization.
Windows XP User Management¶
The following procedure allows user names, full names, and passwords to be viewed and changed:
On the Start menu, right-click My Computer ‣ Manage.
In the Computer Management windows, click the + at the left of Local Users and Groups.
Double-click the Users folder.
To add a new user, select menu item Action ‣ New User....
To delete a user, <right-click> the user name, choose Delete, follow the directions.
Warning
This permanently deletes all data and records for the user, including email.
To change a user name, click on the name, press
[F2], edit the name, and press<Enter>To set or change a full name, double-click a user name, change the full name in the Properties windows, click OK.
To set or change a password, right-click a user name, choose Set password.
Warning
This is not recommended for active users.
Windows XP Passwords¶
Login as the user whose password will be reset
On the menu, choose Start ‣ Control Panel
Double-click User Accounts.
Double-click the logged in user’s full name.
Click on Change my password, follow the on-screen directions.
Warning
If the chosen user is not logged in the link will say Change the password instead, but please do not.
Mac OS X User Management¶
The following procedure allows user names, full names, and passwords to be viewed and changed:
Open Apple Menu ‣ System Preferences...
In System Preferences open the Accounts preference pane.
- If the pane is locked, click the lock icon in the lower left corener to authenticate your administrative credentials.
To add a user, click the + below the user account list.
Specify the user account type.
Note
Standard account type is recommended for users as all administrative tasks request an administrator’s username and password for security.
Specify the user’s full name.
Specify the user’s account name, also known as the username, following the guidelines listed in Identifier Standards.
Specify the user’s password.
Click Create Account.
To view the account name (also known as the username) of an existing user, right-click on the user in the account list and select Advanded Options...
- The account name listed is the username used for network communications.
To change the password for an existing account, login as the account in question.
Select the user account from the account list.
Click Change password...
Warning
If the chosen user is not logged in the button will say Reset password... instead, but please do not.
Note
Multiuser Mac OSX is possible with the following steps:
- Install Vine VNC Server
- Login as the user to be shared
- Start (click) the Vine Server program. Set option to start on login
- Switch user to background
- At remote workstation, connect to Mac user with a VNC client program
Other Mac OS-X Terminal Server multiuser solutions are:
- AquaConnect
- iRAPP