Re: Offline Files Issue

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Thank you for all the advice.

The only issue that I am having now, it does not seem that the offline files
has actually been disabled.

I went to "Computer config\admin templates\network\offline files" in the
group policy as you mentioned before and set "Allow or Disallow use of the
Offline Files feature" to Disable. However, it seems that when the user logs
off his/her account it still performs a sync (I have also rebooted the
workstations).

When I go to Items to Syncronize on each users computer there is a check box
beneath the Offline files with the path to where folder redirection is setup.

Is there something that I am missing? We are running Windows Server 2003
for SBS so I'm not sure if that might be an issue.

Thanks again,
Aaron


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

In news:07E86561-09AD-45E7-91B4-E41AD2A9C7BD@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,
Aaron Hoffman <AaronHoffman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> typed:
No, we are not planning for any unexpected server outages on a regular
basis...thanks for asking.

;-) that's a good thing.

What exactly is the purpose of the offline
files?

Useful for laptops, but I prefer third party options even then.

You sound like you've had problems with it?

Oh my, yes. Some people love them. I probably won't use them again; I've
seen clients lose data while working offline.

We will most
likely go ahead and just disable it. Also, how exactly do the roaming
profiles work? I know the files are stored on the server, but what
happens when the user logs on to the system, opens a file, and saves
it? Does it download a copy to the local machine, or does it always
reside on the server.

Here's my boilerplate on the subject -

General tips:

1. Set up a share on the server. For example - d:\profiles, shared as
profiles$ to make it hidden from browsing. Make sure this share is not set
to allow offline files/caching!
2. Make sure the share permissions on profiles$ indicate everyone=full
control. Set the NTFS security to administrators, system, and users=full
control.
3. In the users' ADUC properties, specify \\server\profiles$\%username% in
the profiles field
4. Have each user log into the domain once from their usual workstation
(where their existing profile lives) and log out. The profile is now
roaming.
5. If you want the administrators group to automatically have permissions to
the profiles folders, you'll need to make the appropriate change in group
policy. Look in computer configuration/administrative
templates/system/logon - there's an option to add administrators group to
the roaming profiles permissions.

Notes:

* Make sure users understand that they should never log into multiple
computers at the same time when they have roaming profiles (unless you make
the profiles mandatory by renaming ntuser.dat to ntuser.man so they can't
change them). Explain that the
last one out
wins, when it comes to uploading the final, changed copy of the profile.

* Keep your profiles TINY. Redirect My Documents; usually best done to the
user's home directory on the server - either via
group policy (folder redirection) or manually (far less advisable). If you
aren't going to also redirect the desktop using policies, tell users that
they are not to store any files on the desktop or you will beat them with a
stick. Big profile=slow login/logout, and possible profile corruption.

* Note that user profiles are not compatible between different OS versions,
even between W2k/XP. Keep all your computers. Keep your workstations as
identical as possible - meaning, OS version is the same, SP level is the
same, app load is (as much as possible) the same.

* Do not let people store any data locally - all data belongs on the server.

* The User Profile Hive Cleanup Utility should be running on all your
computers. You can download it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1B286E6D-8912-4E18-B570-42470E2F3582&displaylang=en





I'm not so familar with that. Anyway, I
appreciate your help. Thanks, Aaron

Hope this helps.



"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

In news:BB6C91ED-CB44-4E22-A51A-3B5645827B74@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,
Aaron Hoffman <AaronHoffman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> typed:
I am open to suggestions regarding this issue. Is it recommended to
not use offline files on LAN-connected computers?

By me? Yes.
By others? Perhaps not.

The hope was that
since we have setup roaming profiles and folder redirection, users
would still be able to access their files should the server go down.

Are you expecting unplanned server outages on a regular basis?
DFS is another option, remember. I'd rather not deal with the
mishegoss of offline files if a server went down, honestly. And good
server hardware will go a long way in ensuring against that.

If so, is there an easy way to turn this off without having to
manually set it up on each system, eg. group policy?

Yep - if you don't want it at all, you can disable it in the
properties of the shares themselves, or you can disable it via GPO -
perhaps just applying it to the OU where your desktops live, if you
have laptop users and want to use it then (although I don't; I use
SecondCopy from www.centered.com for laptops).

The relevant GP bits are in
Computer config\admin templates\network\offline files

....should you decide to go that route.




Thanks,
Aaron

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

In news:C102D638-C37F-49AF-B743-2DFE222B94AD@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,
Aaron Hoffman <AaronHoffman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> typed:
We have recently setup folder redirection and roaming profiles.

Everything is working properly for most of our users, however one
individual is having an issue when she logs off of the system. It
attempts to synchronize and then says, "Errors occurred while
Windows was synchronizing your data."

When the Results tab is selected, it displays the following
warning messages:

Offline Files (\\Server\Users Shared Folders on Server): Unable
to make 'file.mdb' available on \\Server\User Shared
Folders\user1\My Documents\Folder. Files of this type cannot be
made available offline.

(there are about 6 files that show this message)

In addition, there are two entries that say:
Offline Files (\\Server\Users Shared Folders on Server): Unable
to make 'file2.mdb' available on \\Server\User Shared
Folders\user2\My Documents\Folder. Files of this type cannot be
made available offline.

It seems as though it is attempting to synchronize to another
users shared folder ie. user2. I'm not sure why this is happening
and why we are even receiving these messages to begin with. Any
help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Aaron

My first question is, why are you using offline files on
LAN-connected computers? Frankly, I'm not much of a fan even for
laptops and use other methods for file syncing, but on a LAN, I
don't see the point at all. You're running into one of what will
likely be many problems. I would turn off offline files unless you
have some pressing need.

The other issue is, you can't sync certain kinds of files (mdb,
pst, etc) without registry hacks.




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