Roaming Computing System (Windows Edition) 3.3
Create a User Account
Estimated time to complete: 30 minutes.
Contents
- Syntax
- Requirements
- Create Samba Account
- Create an Email Account
- Create Windows Profile and Configure
Syntax
Note that when a word in this guide is shown like <organisation> this means a variable, a placeholder, you're expected to enter here your particular word, not including the angle brackets.
Requirements
Twix is used on the server. It should be in root's home directory. If you don't already have it get it from thegoldenear.org/toolbox/unices/twix/ by logging into the server using PuTTY and following the instructions on the Twix page.
TWEAK, version 0.9.3 specifically, is used on the workstation for configuration. It should already be in E:\TWEAK. If not then download it from thegoldenear.org/tweak/. Save it somewhere; unzip it by right-clicking on it → 7-Zip → Extract here; copy it to E:\.
You use TWEAK by double-clicking on tweak.bat; it's menu driven, you press the letter relating to the item on the menu then [Enter]; this guide leads you through the TWEAK menu options.
Create Samba Account
Login to a workstation (as anyone) and run Start → Programs → PuTTY → PuTTY. Enter 'server' in the 'hostname' field and choose 'Connect'. If you've not run it before as this user choose 'Yes' to confirm the server is who you think it is. At the login prompt, enter 'root' and then when prompted the root Unix account password.
Run Twix: ./twix.sh
Run option 'R. Roaming Computing System (Windows Edition) 3.0 - 3.2 Configuration' → 'M. Create a new Roaming Computing System user account'.
- For access to shared files (S:) add them to the organisation's group <organisation>-staff (otherwise they only have H:)
- If you want them to be a member of any sub-groups then add them to those
Other Optional Permissions
If you print through a print server on SERVER and want them to be a print administrator:
adduser <username> lpadmin
Create an Email Account
If they're to have a dedicated mailbox, it could be either in their own name (as per your organisation's naming convention), or the name of the role they're performing.
Go to the GRSoft Virtual Mail Manager at http://server/mailmanager/login.php.
Login with your mail server administration account, either mail master account ('mailadmin@...') for the whole mail server, or individual domain account (postmaster@...) if you have one.
Manage virtual users → Select a virtual domain: → select domain → Add new virtual user to selected domain →
- Name of virtual user:
- Password (default auto): (this needs to be documented)
Add any forwardings and/or aliases if required.
→ Save new virtual user
Create Windows Profile and Configure
Logon to the workstation with the new account. Windows automatically creates a profile on the workstation, which it will then copy to the server when you logout.
Windows Configuration
TWEAK: A → L - Use D: for this user's temporary system files, E: for their data
Logoff now so that these settings can take effect before continuing. Then logon again.
TWEAK: A →
- N - Configure this user's Windows interface
- R - Configure this user's IE interface
- S - Lock down this user's local intranet zone security
- W - settings you have to do yourself, TWEAK gives you instructions rather than doing it, one page at a time →
- 1 - Turn off sound scheme
- 2 - Windows Explorer's look and feel
- 3 - Remove any unnecessary input locales
- 4 - If using a flat panel monitor - Clear Type - test it because it may look worse on some monitors
- 5 - Configure Quick Launch taskbar
- P → P - use H: for home directory / folder
Logoff now so that these settings can take effect before continuing. Then logon again.
Shortcuts and Icons
TWEAK: D → E - Create shortcut suite (you can customise which shortcuts are created by editing TWEAK's shortcuts-*.ini but you're advised to leave it as it is)
Software Configuration
Core RCS Software
TWEAK: B →
- A → D - Adobe Reader
- E → L - Eraser
- I → G - Irfanview
- O - OpenOffice
- Either
- H - default to saving files in OpenDocument format (ODF)
- I - default to saving files in Microsoft Office format (DOC, XLS, PPT)
- L - OpenOffice
- J → M - Sun Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
- 2 → P - Picasa - Disable media detector
Notepad++
Settings → Preferences... → MISC → 'Enable Notepad++ auto-updater' - off.
Firefox
- Start Firefox
- At 'Welcome to Adblock Plus' choose 'EasyList (USA)' → Subscribe
- Close Firefox
- Go to the Firefox profile directory / folder in Windows Explorer (easiest gotten to by first right-clicking on the Start Menu and choosing Explore). It's located at %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<this user's profile name>.default
- Edit user.js by right-clicking on it and choosing 'Edit with Notepad++'
- Remove the comments (//;) from the two user_pref lines at the bottom
- Change the letters 'PUT_USER_TEMP_LOCATION_HERE' to 'D:\\<username>' (where you change '<username>' for the actual username of this user)
Thunderbird
If they are to have access to any mailboxex, add each of them:
- Run Thunderbird
- Choose to setup a new 'Email account'
- Whomever you want mail to appear from, i.e. '<full name>, <organisation>'
- Email Address: the full email address
- Select 'IMAP'
- Incoming Server: server
- Outgoing Server: server (you'll only be asked this for the first account you setup and it will henceforth be known by this name)
- Incoming user name: the full email address
- When you first access the mailbox you'll be asked for the password, enter it and choose to have it remembered.
- Send a test email to yourself at a different Internet address. When you first send an email you'll be asked
- if you want to setup Enigmail - say 'No'
- for the outgoing mail password - enter the mail password again and choose to have it remembered
Add any additional mailboxes you want to use in the same way.
(If you mistakenly save a wrong password in Thunderbird you can remove the saved password using Tools → Options → Privacy → Passwords → Edit Saved Passwords)
Windows Media Player
Start → Programs → Windows Media Player → Custom Settings → Next
- Enhanced Playback Experience → uncheck 'Download usage rights automatically when I play a file' → Next
- Choose 'Add a shortcut to the desktop' → Next
- Choose 'Don't set up a store now (you can set one up later in the Player)'
Major Proprietary Applications (If Any)
For major proprietary applications (if any) that are likely to only be required on particular workstations see our separate guide to creating a user account (major proprietary applications).
Printing
If you print through a print server on SERVER - connect to any appropriate printers by navigating to the print server using Windows Explorer, i.e. \\server, right-click on the printer name and choose 'Connect'.
If you print direct to the printer (whether over USB, network or through hardware print server box) - the printer driver, as configured by the administrator for this workstation, will be already available and configured for this user.
If you have more than one printer configured (or pseudo printing device listed) then set whichever you want as the default printer: Start → Printers and Faxes → right-click on the specific printer → Set as default.
Saving The Windows Profile (Optional)
Logout from the workstation. The newly configured user profile should be copied back to the server. Be careful, if the profile fails to copy to the server and you logon to a different workstation your changes will be lost. So keep a lookout for any messages such as "unable to save roaming profile", in which case you should log back in and out again.
Migration
If you're migrating from another system you may want to migrate these for the person: home directory / folder files; email; email Address books and distribution lists; browser bookmarks; browser saved passwords.