Syncing Windows Server and Local accounts

[macally]

Another question regarding a Windows Server 2012 install I'm doing

When I was at university, if you signed into a laptop (for example), whilst on the university network, the user account from the server would sync to the laptop so that you could then login to the 'local' copy of that account on the laptop when away from the network.

I am in the process of setting up a network for a friend using Windows Server 2012 essentials and I am wondering if it's possible to do something similar as my friend would need to use his laptop away from the network

There will be VPN access to the network available, but obviously, this is no good if he's without an Internet connection.

 

[paradigm]

Either look up roaming profiles, or look at folder redirection for users folders.

With folder redirection, the folders are added to the Windows Sync Center, and offline copies are taken for when access is unavailable.

(or both).

 

[macally]

Thanks. I have set up folder redirection so that a users documents are available on all machines but when I try to log into an account with the network disconnected, it just tells me there's no server available. Will have a look at the Roaming Profiles though.