How to Determine Which Logon Server Was Used During Network Logon Operation

SUMMARY

This article describes the methods which are available in Windows NT to identify which workstation was used by a user to log on to the network. You can use one or more of the following methods: www.tartoos.com

Method 1: Using Windows NT Auditing. -or-

Method 2: Using Microsoft Network Monitor (or other network tracing utility) -or-

Method 3: Using Windows NT Diagnostics (NT 4.0)

MORE INFORMATION

Method 1: Using Windows NT Auditing

To use Windows NT auditing to determine which workstation a user accessed to logon to the domain, follow these steps:

1.                        Start User Manager for Domains. www.tartoos.com

2.                        Click Audit from the Policies menu.

3.                        Click to enable Success for the Logon and Logoff category. Optionally, you may also check the Failure box.

After the above procedure has been implemented, Windows NT will create an event log for each successful logon attempt. The log will appear like the following example:

   Event Detail

   Date:     06/04/98  Event ID:  528

   Time:     10:06:43 AM  Source:  Security

   User:     msolanki  Type:  Success Audit

   Computer: SMSCENT  Category: Logon/Logoff

   Description:

   Logon/Logoff: Successful

   Logon User Name: msolanki

   Domain: SATHYA

   Logon ID: (0x0, 0x2D0D0)

   Logon Type: 3

   Logon Process: User32 Authentication Pkg:

   MICROSOFT_AUTHENTICATION_PACKAGE_V1_0

   Workstation Name: \\JAMES

Method 2: Using Network Monitorwww.tartoos.com

To use Network Monitor to determine which workstation a user accessed to log on to the domain, follow these steps:

1.                        Capture all incoming traffic to the domain controller(s). In order to reduce the size of the captured data, follow these steps:

a.                                             If possible, include only the primary domain controller or backup domain controller that is most likely to validate the user.

b.                                             Set a capture filter, including only the server message block (SMB) protocol.

c.                                              Configure a large enough memory buffer through the Buffer Settings option on the Capture menu.

2.                        After the data has been captured, set a display filter to only include:

3.                            Protocol: SMB

4.                            Property: Account Name

5.                            Relation: Exists

This will display all the initial SMB session setup containing the user name and the source media access control address.

For example: www.tartoos.com

Src Mac Addr: Dst Mac Addr: Description

WKS1          SUNKING       C session setup & X, Username = MariaH, and C

tree connect & X, Share = \\SUNKING\IPC$

WKS2          SUNKING       C session setup & X, Username = JoeSmith, and C

tree connect & X, Share = \\SUNKING\IPC$

WKS3          SUNKING       C session setup & X, Username = Administrator,

and C tree connect & X, Share = \\SUNKING\IPC$

In the example above, WKS1 is the computer where the user is logging on from, SUNKING is the domain controller authenticating the request, and the Description contains the Windows NT domain account being used.

NOTE: The Src Mac Addr may also been shown as a media access control or IP address if the NetBIOS name could not be resolved or the entry is not in the Network Monitor address database.

Method 3: Using Windows NT Diagnosticswww.tartoos.com

To use Windows NT diagnostics to determine which workstation a user accessed to log on to the domain, follow these steps:

1.                    At the client workstation, click Start, type Winmsd in the Open box, and then click OK.

2.                    On the Network tab, click the General button.www.tartoos.com

You will see information similar to the following:

Identifier            Value

Your Access level     Admin; Local

Workgroup or Domain   SATHYA

Network version       4.0

Lan Root              SATHYA

Logged On Users         1

Current User (1)      MSolanki

Logged Domain         SATHYA

Logon Server          SMSCENT