Managing large DCOM users base?

[Dale Lehman]

I'm working on a prototype for a DCOM server app that will provide a common
access point to multiple data sources for various applications. The app
is written in VB6 and will run on an NT server. The potential user base is
fairly large, on the order of 2000+ users. Creating that many individual
accounts on the NT server will be something of a logistical nightmare, so
we're interested in allowing anonymous logins or finding some other method
that doesn't require so many individual accounts to be used. (The server
app will require database logons to actually access any data.)

However, I haven't been able to get the "none" authentication level to work.
Can anyone suggest a good alternative or provide me with information on
how to make it work? FYI, .NET probably isn't an option, owing to budgetary
constraints.

Thanks!

--Dale

[Joe \Nuke Me Xemu\ Foster]

"Dale Lehman" <lehket@netscape.net> wrote in message <news:3cd97392$1@10.1.10.29>...

> I'm working on a prototype for a DCOM server app that will provide a common
> access point to multiple data sources for various applications. The app
> is written in VB6 and will run on an NT server. The potential user base is
> fairly large, on the order of 2000+ users. Creating that many individual
> accounts on the NT server will be something of a logistical nightmare, so
> we're interested in allowing anonymous logins or finding some other method
> that doesn't require so many individual accounts to be used. (The server
> app will require database logons to actually access any data.)

How about one user account per "role" or per department? You should
be able to allow more than one user to share a login. It's not the
perfect permanent solution, but more like a band-aid.

> However, I haven't been able to get the "none" authentication level to work.
> Can anyone suggest a good alternative or provide me with information on
> how to make it work? FYI, .NET probably isn't an option, owing to budgetary
> constraints.

They'll probably tell you to use MTS/COM+, despite the fact that VB
components don't get to play in the pool with the rest of the kids...

--
Joe Foster <mailto:jlfoster%40znet.com> Got Thetans? <http://www.xenu.net/>
WARNING: I cannot be held responsible for the above They're coming to
because my cats have apparently learned to type. take me away, ha ha!

[Dale]

Joe,

Thanks for the response. It turns out that I stumbled across the answer.
NT servers have a default "Guest" account, but the account isn't activated
by default. Once I activated that account and set the app's Authentication
level to "None" everything worked beautifully.

--Dale