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diff --git a/docs/docbook/projdoc/PolicyMgmt.xml b/docs/docbook/projdoc/PolicyMgmt.xml new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..2ae3fa5ea7 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/docbook/projdoc/PolicyMgmt.xml @@ -0,0 +1,384 @@ +<chapter id="PolicyMgmt"> +<chapterinfo> + &author.jht; + <pubdate>April 3 2003</pubdate> +</chapterinfo> +<title>System and Account Policies</title> + +<sect1> +<title>Creating and Managing System Policies</title> + +<para> +Under MS Windows platforms, particularly those following the release of MS Windows +NT4 and MS Windows 95) it is possible to create a type of file that would be placed +in the NETLOGON share of a domain controller. As the client logs onto the network +this file is read and the contents initiate changes to the registry of the client +machine. This file allows changes to be made to those parts of the registry that +affect users, groups of users, or machines. +</para> + +<para> +For MS Windows 9x/Me this file must be called <filename>Config.POL</filename> and may +be generated using a tool called <filename>poledit.exe</filename>, better known as the +Policy Editor. The policy editor was provided on the Windows 98 installation CD, but +dissappeared again with the introduction of MS Windows Me (Millenium Edition). From +comments from MS Windows network administrators it would appear that this tool became +a part of the MS Windows Me Resource Kit. +</para> + +<para> +MS Windows NT4 Server products include the <emphasis>System Policy Editor</emphasis> +under the <filename>Start -> Programs -> Administrative Tools</filename> menu item. +For MS Windows NT4 and later clients this file must be called <filename>NTConfig.POL</filename>. +</para> + +<para> +New with the introduction of MS Windows 2000 was the Microsoft Management Console +or MMC. This tool is the new wave in the ever changing landscape of Microsoft +methods for management of network access and security. Every new Microsoft product +or technology seems to obsolete the old rules and to introduce newer and more +complex tools and methods. To Microsoft's credit though, the MMC does appear to +be a step forward, but improved functionality comes at a great price. +</para> + +<para> +Before embarking on the configuration of network and system policies it is highly +advisable to read the documentation available from Microsoft's web site regarding +<ulink url="http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/management/deployment/planguide/prof_policies.asp"> +Implementing Profiles and Policies in Windows NT 4.0 from http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/management/deployment/planguide/prof_policies.asp</ulink> available from Microsoft. +There are a large number of documents in addition to this old one that should also +be read and understood. Try searching on the Microsoft web site for "Group Policies". +</para> + +<para> +What follows is a very brief discussion with some helpful notes. The information provided +here is incomplete - you are warned. +</para> + +<sect2> +<title>Windows 9x/Me Policies</title> + +<para> +You need the Win98 Group Policy Editor to set Group Profiles up under Windows 9x/Me. +It can be found on the Original full product Win98 installation CD under +<filename>tools/reskit/netadmin/poledit</filename>. Install this using the +Add/Remove Programs facility and then click on the 'Have Disk' tab. +</para> + +<para> +Use the Group Policy Editor to create a policy file that specifies the location of +user profiles and/or the <filename>My Documents</filename> etc. stuff. Then +save these settings in a file called <filename>Config.POL</filename> that needs to +be placed in the root of the [NETLOGON] share. If Win98 is configured to log onto +the Samba Domain, it will automatically read this file and update the Win9x/Me registry +of the machine as it logs on. +</para> + +<para> +Further details are covered in the Win98 Resource Kit documentation. +</para> + +<para> +If you do not take the right steps, then every so often Win9x/Me will check the +integrity of the registry and will restore it's settings from the back-up +copy of the registry it stores on each Win9x/Me machine. Hence, you will +occasionally notice things changing back to the original settings. +</para> + +<para> +Install the group policy handler for Win9x to pick up group policies. Look on the +Win98 CD in <filename>\tools\reskit\netadmin\poledit</filename>. +Install group policies on a Win9x client by double-clicking +<filename>grouppol.inf</filename>. Log off and on again a couple of times and see +if Win98 picks up group policies. Unfortunately this needs to be done on every +Win9x/Me machine that uses group policies. +</para> + +</sect2> +<sect2> +<title>Windows NT4 Style Policy Files</title> + +<para> +To create or edit <filename>ntconfig.pol</filename> you must use the NT Server +Policy Editor, <command>poledit.exe</command> which is included with NT4 Server +but <emphasis>not NT Workstation</emphasis>. There is a Policy Editor on a NT4 +Workstation but it is not suitable for creating <emphasis>Domain Policies</emphasis>. +Further, although the Windows 95 Policy Editor can be installed on an NT4 +Workstation/Server, it will not work with NT clients. However, the files from +the NT Server will run happily enough on an NT4 Workstation. +</para> + +<para> +You need <filename>poledit.exe, common.adm</filename> and <filename>winnt.adm</filename>. +It is convenient to put the two *.adm files in the <filename>c:\winnt\inf</filename> +directory which is where the binary will look for them unless told otherwise. Note also that that +directory is normally 'hidden'. +</para> + +<para> +The Windows NT policy editor is also included with the Service Pack 3 (and +later) for Windows NT 4.0. Extract the files using <command>servicepackname /x</command>, +i.e. that's <command>Nt4sp6ai.exe /x</command> for service pack 6a. The policy editor, +<command>poledit.exe</command> and the associated template files (*.adm) should +be extracted as well. It is also possible to downloaded the policy template +files for Office97 and get a copy of the policy editor. Another possible +location is with the Zero Administration Kit available for download from Microsoft. +</para> + +<sect3> +<title>Registry Tattoos</title> + + <para> + With NT4 style registry based policy changes, a large number of settings are not + automatically reversed as the user logs off. Since the settings that were in the + NTConfig.POL file were applied to the client machine registry and that apply to the + hive key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE are permanent until explicitly reversed. This is known + as tattooing. It can have serious consequences down-stream and the administrator must + be extremely careful not to lock out the ability to manage the machine at a later date. + </para> + + +</sect3> +</sect2> +<sect2> +<title>MS Windows 200x / XP Professional Policies</title> + +<para> +Windows NT4 System policies allows setting of registry parameters specific to +users, groups and computers (client workstations) that are members of the NT4 +style domain. Such policy file will work with MS Windows 2000 / XP clients also. +</para> + +<para> +New to MS Windows 2000 Microsoft introduced a new style of group policy that confers +a superset of capabilities compared with NT4 style policies. Obviously, the tool used +to create them is different, and the mechanism for implementing them is much changed. +</para> + +<para> +The older NT4 style registry based policies are known as <emphasis>Administrative Templates</emphasis> +in MS Windows 2000/XP Group Policy Objects (GPOs). The later includes ability to set various security +configurations, enforce Internet Explorer browser settings, change and redirect aspects of the +users' desktop (including: the location of <emphasis>My Documents</emphasis> files (directory), as +well as intrinsics of where menu items will appear in the Start menu). An additional new +feature is the ability to make available particular software Windows applications to particular +users and/or groups. +</para> + +<para> +Remember: NT4 policy files are named <filename>NTConfig.POL</filename> and are stored in the root +of the NETLOGON share on the domain controllers. A Windows NT4 user enters a username, a password +and selects the domain name to which the logon will attempt to take place. During the logon +process the client machine reads the NTConfig.POL file from the NETLOGON share on the authenticating +server, modifies the local registry values according to the settings in this file. +</para> + +<para> +Windows 2K GPOs are very feature rich. They are NOT stored in the NETLOGON share, rather part of +a Windows 200x policy file is stored in the Active Directory itself and the other part is stored +in a shared (and replicated) volume called the SYSVOL folder. This folder is present on all Active +Directory domain controllers. The part that is stored in the Active Directory itself is called the +group policy container (GPC), and the part that is stored in the replicated share called SYSVOL is +known as the group policy template (GPT). +</para> + +<para> +With NT4 clients the policy file is read and executed upon only as each user logs onto the network. +MS Windows 200x policies are much more complex - GPOs are processed and applied at client machine +startup (machine specific part) and when the user logs onto the network the user specific part +is applied. In MS Windows 200x style policy management each machine and/or user may be subject +to any number of concurently applicable (and applied) policy sets (GPOs). Active Directory allows +the administrator to also set filters over the policy settings. No such equivalent capability +exists with NT4 style policy files. +</para> + +<sect3> +<title>Administration of Win2K / XP Policies</title> + +<title>Instructions</title> +<para> +Instead of using the tool called "The System Policy Editor", commonly called Poledit (from the +executable name poledit.exe), GPOs are created and managed using a Microsoft Management Console +(MMC) snap-in as follows:</para> +<procedure> +<step> +<para> +Go to the Windows 200x / XP menu <filename>Start->Programs->Administrative Tools</filename> + and select the MMC snap-in called "Active Directory Users and Computers" +</para> +</step> + +<step><para> +Select the domain or organizational unit (OU) that you wish to manage, then right click +to open the context menu for that object, select the properties item. +</para></step> + +<step><para> +Now left click on the Group Policy tab, then left click on the New tab. Type a name +for the new policy you will create. +</para></step> + +<step><para> +Now left click on the Edit tab to commence the steps needed to create the GPO. +</para></step> +</procedure> + +<para> +All policy configuration options are controlled through the use of policy administrative +templates. These files have a .adm extension, both in NT4 as well as in Windows 200x / XP. +Beware however, since the .adm files are NOT interchangible across NT4 and Windows 200x. +The later introduces many new features as well as extended definition capabilities. It is +well beyond the scope of this documentation to explain how to program .adm files, for that +the adminsitrator is referred to the Microsoft Windows Resource Kit for your particular +version of MS Windows. +</para> + +<note> +<para> +The MS Windows 2000 Resource Kit contains a tool called gpolmig.exe. This tool can be used +to migrate an NT4 NTConfig.POL file into a Windows 200x style GPO. Be VERY careful how you +use this powerful tool. Please refer to the resource kit manuals for specific usage information. +</para> +</note> + +</sect3> +</sect2> +</sect1> + +<sect1> +<title>Managing Account/User Policies</title> + +<para> +Policies can define a specific user's settings or the settings for a group of users. The resulting +policy file contains the registry settings for all users, groups, and computers that will be using +the policy file. Separate policy files for each user, group, or computer are not not necessary. +</para> + +<para> +If you create a policy that will be automatically downloaded from validating domain controllers, +you should name the file NTconfig.POL. As system administrator, you have the option of renaming the +policy file and, by modifying the Windows NT-based workstation, directing the computer to update +the policy from a manual path. You can do this by either manually changing the registry or by using +the System Policy Editor. This path can even be a local path such that each machine has its own policy file, +but if a change is necessary to all machines, this change must be made individually to each workstation. +</para> + +<para> +When a Windows NT4/200x/XP machine logs onto the network the NETLOGON share on the authenticating domain +controller for the presence of the NTConfig.POL file. If one exists it is downloaded, parsed and then +applied to the user's part of the registry. +</para> + +<para> +MS Windows 200x/XP clients that log onto an MS Windows Active Directory security domain may additionally, +acquire policy settings through Group Policy Objects (GPOs) that are defined and stored in Active Directory +itself. The key benefit of using AS GPOs is that they impose no registry <emphasis>tatooing</emphasis> effect. +This has considerable advanage compared with the use of NTConfig.POL (NT4) style policy updates. +</para> + +<para> +In addition to user access controls that may be imposed or applied via system and/or group policies +in a manner that works in conjunction with user profiles, the user management environment under +MS Windows NT4/200x/XP allows per domain as well as per user account restrictions to be applied. +Common restrictions that are frequently used includes: +</para> + +<para> +<simplelist> + <member>Logon Hours</member> + <member>Password Aging</member> + <member>Permitted Logon from certain machines only</member> + <member>Account type (Local or Global)</member> + <member>User Rights</member> +</simplelist> +</para> + +<sect2> +<title>With Windows NT4/200x</title> + +<para> +The tools that may be used to configure these types of controls from the MS Windows environment are: +The NT4 User Manager for domains, the NT4 System and Group Policy Editor, the registry editor (regedt32.exe). +Under MS Windows 200x/XP this is done using the Microsoft Managment Console (MMC) with approapriate +"snap-ins", the registry editor, and potentially also the NT4 System and Group Policy Editor. +</para> +</sect2> + +<sect2> +<title>With a Samba PDC</title> + +<para> +With a Samba Domain Controller, the new tools for managing of user account and policy information includes: +<filename>smbpasswd, pdbedit, net, rpcclient.</filename>. The administrator should read the +man pages for these tools and become familiar with their use. +</para> + +</sect2> +</sect1> + +<sect1> +<title>System Startup and Logon Processing Overview</title> + +<para> +The following attempts to document the order of processing of system and user policies following a system +reboot and as part of the user logon: +</para> + +<orderedlist> + <listitem><para> + Network starts, then Remote Procedure Call System Service (RPCSS) and Multiple Universal Naming + Convention Provider (MUP) start + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + Where Active Directory is involved, an ordered list of Group Policy Objects (GPOs) is downloaded + and applied. The list may include GPOs that: +<simplelist> + <member>Apply to the location of machines in a Directory</member> + <member>Apply only when settings have changed</member> + <member>Depend on configuration of scope of applicability: local, site, domain, organizational unit, etc.</member> +</simplelist> + No desktop user interface is presented until the above have been processed. + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + Execution of start-up scripts (hidden and synchronous by defaut). + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + A keyboard action to affect start of logon (Ctrl-Alt-Del). + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + User credentials are validated, User profile is loaded (depends on policy settings). + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + An ordered list of User GPOs is obtained. The list contents depends on what is configured in respsect of: + +<simplelist> + <member>Is user a domain member, thus subject to particular policies</member> + <member>Loopback enablement, and the state of the loopback policy (Merge or Replace)</member> + <member>Location of the Active Directory itself</member> + <member>Has the list of GPOs changed. No processing is needed if not changed.</member> +</simplelist> + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + User Policies are applied from Active Directory. Note: There are several types. + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + Logon scripts are run. New to Win2K and Active Directory, logon scripts may be obtained based on Group + Policy objects (hidden and executed synchronously). NT4 style logon scripts are then run in a normal + window. + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + The User Interface as determined from the GPOs is presented. Note: In a Samba domain (like and NT4 + Domain) machine (system) policies are applied at start-up, User policies are applied at logon. + </para></listitem> +</orderedlist> + +</sect1> +</chapter> |