SMS: Comparison of Windows Networking Logon Discovery and Windows Networking Logon Client Installation

This article compares the Windows Networking Logon Discovery method to the Windows Networking Logon Client Installation method.

When you use either the Windows Networking Logon Discovery method or the Windows Networking Logon Client Installation method, the Keep logon point lists for discovery and installation synchronized option is available by default. This option ensures that the domain entries in the Logon Points list are the same for both the Windows Networking Logon Discovery and Windows Networking Logon Client Installation methods.

Windows Networking Logon Discovery

To enable Windows Networking Logon Discovery, follow these steps:

1. In the Systems Management Server (SMS) Administrator console, click to expand the Site Settings folder.
2. Click to expand Discovery Methods.
3. Right-click Windows Networking Logon Discovery, and then click Properties.
4. Click General, and then click to select Enable Windows Networking Logon Discovery.
   
   NOTE: If you install the site server by using the Express Setup option, this discovery method is available by default. The Keep Logon Point Lists for Discovery and Installation Synchronized option is enabled by default. If you intend to use this discovery method to discover resources only, and not install them, you can click to clear this option.
5. Click New in the Logon Points list of the Properties dialog box, type a domain name, and then click OK to add a Windows NT domain to the list.
   
   NOTE: Each domain controller in the domain that is specified is installed as a logon point for the SMS site.

Windows Networking Logon Client Installation

To enable Windows Networking Logon Client Installation, follow these steps:

1. In the SMS Administrator console, click to expand the Site Settings folder.
2. Click to expand Client Installation Methods.
3. Right-click Windows Networking Logon Client Installation, and then click Properties.
4. Click the General tab, and then click to select Enable Windows Networking Logon Client Installation.
   
   NOTE: If you install the site server with the Express Setup option, this installation method is available by default.
5. Click New in the Logon Points list, type a domain name, and then click OK to add a Windows NT domain to the list.
   
   NOTE: Each domain controller in the domain that is specified is installed as a logon point for the SMS site.
6. Click OK to begin the site configuration process and to install the logon point.

Results of Enabling and Disabling Windows Networking

The following examples describe what occurs when you enable and disable the Windows Networking Logon options.

Example One

When you enable both Windows Networking Logon Client Installation and Windows Networking Logon Discovery, if you specify a domain, Logon Server Manager creates the SMSLogon share on all domain controllers, and then copies the files that are needed to support both the discovery and the installation.

Example Two

When you disable Windows Networking Logon Client Installation, and enable Windows Networking Logon Discovery, if you specify a domain, Logon Server Manager creates the SMSLogon share on all domain controllers, and then copies only the files that are needed for logon discovery. The Logon Discovery Agent is then created and it starts on all domain controllers only when the discovery method is available.

Example Three

When Windows Networking Logon Client Installation is enabled, and Windows Networking Logon Discovery is disabled, if you specify a domain, Logon Server Manager creates the SMSLogon share on all domain controllers, and then copies only the files that are needed for logon installation.

Example Four

When both Windows Networking Logon Client Installation and Windows Networking Logon Discovery are disabled, no logon points are created on the specified domains.