Category: Microsoft Active Directory

Microsoft Active Directory – Domain Controller Deployment

November 19, 2012
Microsoft Active Directory

I am currently in the process of planning the deployment of an additional domain controller (DC) in an existing Microsoft Active Directory (AD) domain. I found this Microsoft TechNet documentation that has been helpful as a practical step-by-step checklist.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc759620(v=ws.10).aspx

In addition to the checklist please take into consideration any variables in your current Information Technology (IT) infrastructure when planning to deploy an additional domain controller to an existing Microsoft Active Directory domain.

Enjoy!

Group Policy Object – Enable Screen Saver after Specified Period of Inactivity

November 15, 2012
Microsoft Active DirectoryMicrosoft Group Policy Object

You may use the following Group Policy Object (GPO) settings to configure the screen saver settings in a Windows Server 2003 R2 Active Directory (AD) domain.

To configure the password protected screen saver after ten (10) minutes of activity open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) and create a Group Policy. This may be done by right clicking the Group Policy Objects organizational unit (OU) and selecting New. Additionally, you may right click the OU that contains the desktop(s) of your user(s) and selecting Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here…. In the new New GPO dialog box name the GPO Screen Saver. Right click the newly created GPO and select Edit…from the context menu. Once the GPO opens navigate to the following setting.

User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization

Enable the following four settings. 1) Enable Screen Saver, 2) Force Specific Screen Saver (Screen saver executable name: C:\Windows\System32\scrnsave.scr), 3) Password protect the screen saver, 4) Screen saver timeout (Seconds: 600).

In this example the screen saver chosen (scrnsave.scr) is the blank screen saver available in Windows XP and Windows 7.

Enjoy!