How to configure Ranger Account Manager v1 in staff mode to startup with network accounts instead of local accounts

Question

Why does Ranger Account Manager in staff mode not show my network users?

Symptoms

Ranger Account Manager - Warning. An error occurred whilst populating the user list

Ranger Account Manager Client (RAMClient.exe) is installed onto the workstation. A shortcut has been configured to run ram.exe from the network server's Ranger folder with a /staff switch. You then try to run the program as a staff user but you then get the following error;

• Warning. An error occurred whilst populating the use
• The 'Domain Users' group specified in the RAMStaffModeExcludes.txt file cannot be found
• Error code: -2147022676
• Error Description: Could not retrieve local group data
• The group name cannot be found

Cause

Ranger Account Manager was designed to work with both local and network user accounts. The choice of local or network accounts is set by the user during the first time they launch the program. However because the program is being run in staff mode the user is unable to select local or network accounts and so RAM uses the default of local accounts. The program then continues to load and reads in a configuration file (RAMStaffModeExcludes.txt) from the root of the directory.

The configuration file is set by default to show all users within the domain users group. As RAM cannot find the domain users group on the local computer the error is displayed.

Resolution

There are two options. On a per user basis you can run RAM in the normal mode (without the staff switch) and make sure the network accounts are selected or you can predefine this with a registry key value in the preshell files to set RAM to load with network accounts.

Instructions

Manually Change the Target Machine

1. Provide the user with a shortcut to ram.exe
2. Go to 'options' and then 'target machine'
3. Select Network Accounts and type in the name of your Domain Controller.
4. Click continue to update RAM and then close the application

Set the target machine using the preshell files.


1. Modify the target server to that of your Domain Controller name
2. Copy the text and paste it into the bottom of the preshellNT.rrg file (in your server's Ranger directory) in the quot;Miscquot; section.

Testing

To test logon as a staff user and run the shortcut to RAM with the staff switch