Is Workgroup Mode Supported for CIFS/SMB in ONTAP?
Applies to
- ONTAP 9 CIFS/SMB
Answer
Workgroup mode is a standard feature in Windows that allows a workstation to operate without an Active Directory Domain, it allows the ability to authenticate and serve data without DC interaction. Support for Workgroup mode was missing for older versions of Data ONTAP, but it has been added as of ONTAP 9 and later. This feature is crucial in situations like:
- When customers do not want a Microsoft domain infrastructure
- When customers are prevented from using a Microsoft domain by regulation policies
How to create a new CIFS server configured for Workgroup mode?
Cluster::>vserver cifs create -vserver [vserver_name] -cifs-server [cifs_server_name] -workgroup [workgroup_name]
How to move a CIFS server from a domain to a workgroup?
Cluster::>vserver cifs modify -vserver [vserver_name] -cifs-server [cifs_server_name] -status-admin down -workgroup [workgroup_name]
How to move a CIFS server from a workgroup to a domain?
Cluster::>vserver cifs modify -vserver [vserver_name] -cifs-server [cifs_server_name] -status-admin down -domain [domain_name]
Additional Information
Please note: Local Users and Groups (LUG) is a prerequisite for Workgroup mode.