A question about roaming profiles

themistry

themistry

themistry

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Joined
15 Jun 2006
Posts
575
Hi all,

If you have setup roaming profiles, you can prevent certain folders being copied during login using folder redirection. However, when you configure folder redirection, do you simply overwrite the profile folder?

For example, if my profile is stored at...

\\pdc\profiles\james

When I setup redirection of the My Documents folder, should i configure it as...

\\pdc\profiles\james\my documents\

Or should it go to a different share, i.e.

\\pdc\temp_redirect\james\...

Little confused by this. If I should be going to a different share, does this mean everytime a userlogs on, it copies there profile to a different share on my server, instead of just using the original in the "profiles" folder?

Thanks all,
TM
 
Have it set to a different share e.g:

\\server\profiles\%username% <--- for their profile

\\server\users\%username% <--- for their My docs

It makes life a lot simpler for you.

When they log on it copies their settings from the profiles share, but merely maps their my docs to the other share.

When they log off it updates their profile, but the my docs just stays as it is.
 
ah haa. i see.

So when the user right clicks on there My Documents. What path will they see?

Secondly, what if I want that to be a drive letter (W:\My Documents) for example. Can I do this?

Thanks,
TM
 
When they right click they will see: \\server\users\theirusernamehere

You would set the letter when creating their user ID in AD.
 
The_KiD said:
When they right click they will see: \\server\users\theirusernamehere

You would set the letter when creating their user ID in AD.
Click to expand...

Bah beaten to it, you could manualy map it to the w: from their pc, but absolutely no point if you have access to active directory
 
ok, thanks guys that will do me.

:)

Just to claify. The My Documents, Desktop and Application Data folder sit with the profiles\username directory. On logon, these are copied to the users\username\ directory which they see. When they log off, the folders are then copied back to the profile directory.

The user now does not know that a "profiles" folder exists.

Further now, do I need to disable offline folders so this stuff isn't copied to the local users?

Thanks guys,
TM
 
Wait no you have something wrong.

Their My Docs never moves, it stays on the server and never moves, when they log it effectively just maps a driver to \\server\users\%username% doesn't copy it any where or move it.

The profile info such as application data and desktop files etc are copied from one server to ther desktop and back when they log off.
 
The_KiD said:
Wait no you have something wrong.

Their My Docs never moves, it stays on the server and never moves, when they log it effectively just maps a driver to \\server\users\%username% doesn't copy it any where or move it.

The profile info such as application data and desktop files etc are copied from one server to ther desktop and back when they log off.
Click to expand...

i thought that was what he was saying?
 
The_KiD said:
Wait no you have something wrong.

Their My Docs never moves, it stays on the server and never moves, when they log it effectively just maps a driver to \\server\users\%username% doesn't copy it any where or move it.

The profile info such as application data and desktop files etc are copied from one server to ther desktop and back when they log off.
Click to expand...

Thanks The_Kid. However, you can also redirect the Application Data and Desktop folders (which I intend todo).

Thus, nothing is copied anymore (except the Start Menu)?

Thanks guys,
TM
 
Blue Cypher said:
i thought that was what he was saying?
Click to expand...

Looks like he was saying that the My Docs sits in the \\server\profiles\ directory which isnt the case, it sits at \\server\users and never moves anywhere.
 
Right, im confused.

From what im reading, if I setup roaming profiles, EVERYTHING would sit in the \profiles\ folder and be copied to the users machine each time they logon.

I can use folder redirection to prevent some of this stuff being copied (my documents, application data, desktop folders). Instead, they are copied/redirected to a share on the server (in the \users\ folder).

Is this not correct?

See this link: http://www.windowsnetworking.com/ar...e-Folder-Redirection-Windows-Server-2003.html

Argh, thanks guys :)

TM
 
Sorry Mistry your correct in what you say, I was merely getting confused by the way you were phrasing it :)

I was assuming you meant that the my docs would sit in \\server\profiles and then during log on be copied to \\server\users, when this isnt the case.

My Bad!
 
The_KiD said:
I was assuming you meant that the my docs would sit in \\server\profiles and then during log on be copied to \\server\users, when this isnt the case.
Click to expand...

Hey,

this is what I was asking :) So thanks for clearing it all up! :D

Excellent,

right of to go and set everything up.

Once I install Win 2k3 server, anything I need to install on there before doing anything major? (Services packs etc)

TM
 
Installing Win2K3 Server it makes you do all the things you need to before it lets you fully use the server :) It's nice like that!
 
All setup and working, just like to say thanks for your help here :)

I have a new question in regards to NTFS permissions if you feel upto it :D

Thanks though,
TM
 
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