User authentication from non-native server domains in a computer network

A method of authenticating a user of a Windows NT client normally configured against an account held at a Windows NT server, comprising the steps of:

• in response to a logon request at the client, providing the user with an option to select a server domain from a Windows NT server domain and a set of one or more non-native server domains for authentication;
• in response to user selection of the non-native server domain, establishing a connection between the Windows NT client and the non-native server domain;
• and
• following successful authentication of the Windows NT client at the non-native server domain, establishing a Windows NT user account at the client.

A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for authenticating a user of a Windows NT client, comprising:

• means for maintaining at the client a list of one or more non-native server domains at which a user may be authenticated;
• means responsive to a logon request for providing the user with an option to select from the list a non-native server domain for authentication;
• means responsive to user-selection of a non-native server domain for establishing a connection between the client and the non-native server domain;
• and
• means responsive to successful authentication of the user for dynamically establishing a Windows NT user account at the client.

A computer connectable to a network, comprising:

• a processor;
• a Windows NT operating system;
• an authentication mechanism, comprising:
• means for maintaining at the client a list of one or more non-native server domains at which a user may be authenticated;
• means responsive to a logon request for providing the user with an option to select from the list a non-native server domain for authentication;
• means responsive to user-selection of a non-native server domain for establishing a connection between the client and the non-native server domain;
• and
• means responsive to successful authentication of the user for dynamically establishing a Windows NT user account at the client.