Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of dcaparaso
dcaparaso

asked on

Folder Redirection Questions

I have some general questions regarding Folder Redirection Group Policies.  What I would like to do is make sure a certain folder winds up on my users desktops (preferably, or it could show in their my documents folder).  I want to allow users to still customize their own desktops and my docs folders.  we use roaming profiles.  If I use redirection policies can they custominze their desktops and will it save their settings while making sure the folder I want on the desktop is always there?

Avatar of mikewheatie
mikewheatie

Quick Answers to your questions, which are explained in greater detail below:

Make sure a folder is displayed on desktop or My Documents for a user:  Manually copy the folder to each user profile, create a user template for future use (email for more information on this subject) or I'm sure you can create a script to automate this event at logon.

Allow users to customize desktops/my docs:  Folder redirection is transparent to the user, they can still customize, and won't even know that the information is saved on a server.

Make sure data stays:  The data will always be there.  If redirecting My Docs, you are in a sense detaching it from the profile, so that large portion of information isn't synchronized with the profile.  My Docs information will be saved in a different location of your choice, and is totally transparent to the user.  No user settings will be effected, they will just be able to log on faster.

Some general info.

Folder Redirection is quite a lovely thing.  It serves 3 main purposes.  

The First point is covered by roaming user profiles.

First, if roaming user profiles aren't being implemented, it allows for certain data to be stored on a centralized server, thus allowing the user to retrieve data from any computer they log on to.  (This is Application Data, Desktop, My Documents, and Start Menu)  In fact, this covers quite a bit of roaming user profiles if you were to implement all of these.  (Note: It does not take the place of though, which is explained next)

The second main function, is to limit the amount of traffic being synchronized with large roaming profiles being copied over.  Every time a user logs on, data is retrieved from the server.  Data is stored temporarily on the local disk, and when a user logs off, all data is synchronized to the server designated by roaming user profile settings.  Imagine the amount of traffic being transferred when a large My Documents folder is being copied over.  Redirecting data such as the My Documents Folder to a centralized server, reduces the size of the profile, because data is saved directly to the location on the server, instead of updates being copied and retrieved at the start and end of each session.  And best of all, this operation is transparent to the user.  The My Documents folder, looks the same, users save information the same, only the data is redirected to a location of your choice.

The third key function, is addressing backup issues.  Now most administrators will have a script or GPO map a user folder to a drive for users to store files.  This is just another way of going about it.  In fact, even in spite of having a home folder, users will still save information in My Documents, My Pictures, or the desktop, which may still be important to backup.  With folder redirection, it is easier to backup what may be important files in user's My Documents folder, now that the data is centrally stored.

Now, this does not take the place of roaming user profiles, in fact I use folder redirection as a compliment to RUP's.  I have roaming user profiles, with redirected My Document folders.

Man, I wrote a lot.  I hope this isn't too much to read, and hope it will give you good incite into Folder redirection without confusing you too much.  If you have any questions just post them here and I'll get back to you asap.  In conclusion, I'll explain a small scenario.

Scenario:

Administrator configures roaming user profiles for all users to address users who move locations often.  (Users complain when they move locations, none of their icons show up on the desktop that they had on their original computer.)  Now, instead of a new profile being created on the local computer each time a user logs on to a different machine, they always receive the same information.  With an RUP directed to a UNC path, when a user logs on, it retreives the whole profile from the server, and caches it on the local harddrive.  When changes are made, they are made to the local harddrive.  When a user decides to log off, those changes are updated to the server.  (Take a look at all the information specific to a user by viewing the contents of Documents and Settings\username.  My Documents is included in here.)

Administrator gets reports of users in the graphics dept. complaining that when they logon in the morning, it takes an extremely long time.  Administrator notices that loading profiles is taking an abnormal amount of time.  Administrator knows graphics users save their work in their My Documents folder.  Central backup is not a concern, since all user profiles are being backed up. (which include My Documents)  Administrator decides to redirect My Documents folder to improve logon times. (Logon times are improved because the My Documents folder is not being copied over with the profile.  Instead it is redirected to another location, and files are saved directly to the server, instead of to the localdisk, then synchronized over.  Remember, still transparent to the user, they don't know the difference.)  This just takes the bulk load off the profile being copied.

Hope that helps!!!

Mike A+, MCSE
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Old_Dog
Old_Dog

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Avatar of dcaparaso

ASKER

sorry it took so long to award

mike, while your info was excellent and accurate the actual script olddog provided was what i was looking for.