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We used to have a NT4 fileserver and connecting to it was as simple. smb://192.168.1.x and type in my username and password. That no longer works now that we have a Win2003 server with opendirectory. The spinning wheel appears and never goes away. I can see the the fileserver from the finder using the network pane, it prompts me for my username and password, but then informs me the "alias fileserver could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found."
Suggestions?
Dave
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Yeah, your system administrator has to pull out his/her Win2K3 Server CD and install the Services for Macintosh component, then jump through a few hoops to get it configured and working properly. I have not found a way to just connect to it over SMB.
I'm in the middle of the process myself. It looks like everything is set up properly, but I still can't get to my shares from a Mac - it logs in and dumps me into the "Microsoft UAM Volume" share which has Microsoft's ancient UAM component installers for Classic.
Thankfully, none of the Macs at that particular client really need to log in to that server, but it would be nice to get it to work.
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There is a way to get it to work without services for Mac. I connect to all of our 2k3 servers using smb.
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I was just told this morning that my Powerbook which no longer connects to Windows XP box has to go through some "BIND to the network" process. And of course, that requires an IT guy to come and do it. The PB connects to the network via Airport; my G4 with a wire connects just fine.
Anyway, this BINDING process seems to be the key. A quick search didn't tell me much about what that involves.
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I used the directory access program in the utilities folder to bind to the activedirectory network and then logged out and logged back in as a user from that machine. That worked but I still could not use the network pane to access the fileservers files. Strange since I was drawing my user profile from it!
I thought I'd take a peek in the accounts system preference and see if there was anything there and got a big surprise. It is completely blank! I even tried rebooting but the accounts pane is completely blank. All the others work fine. This is going well...
Dave
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Ok, after googling I found others having the account preference pane problem. The answer was to delete the activedirectory user id that got created when I logged in. Now the preference pane works fine. I think apple's not quite there yet with activedirectory. I'll have to figure out the apple services thing.
Dave
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Go to your Utilites folder..
Open "DIrectoryAccess".
I can't give you step-by-step help, 'cause I'm new at this stuff..
But your "binding" and ActiveDirectory and OpenDirectory services begin there.
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I don't bind to Active Directory at all on my Mac. User is a local account, I connect to the servers manually.
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You can always use DAVE and your headaches will be gone. ; )
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You need to change a policy setting in the Domain Controller Group Policy or ask your administrator to do it.
The policy is named: "Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (always)"
It is found in: Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> Security Options.
You will need to change the setting to "Disable". I recommend that you then "Enable" the next policy named: "Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (if client agrees)" to maintain security.
Always use the 'gpupdate' command in Command Prompt so Group Policy changes are applied immediately.
You should now be able to use the Finder to Connect to a server using a url like: smb://servername or smb://ipaddress
