Re: SBS 2003 folder redirection, offline files, ..and more

With some creative GPO configuration, you can set up off-line folders so they're only active when you log onto a specific computer (or computers), but not others.

I often have to do this in cases where we have older DOS based LOB applications that require users have admin rights on workstations, and a "boss" who likes to roam around the facility, logging onto various workstations, and who also has a laptop.

The challenge is to have my doc's redirection enabled for the desktops, without off line folders, and a synchronized copy of the "boss" documents on his laptop, but nowhere else - as with local admin rights his documents - once synced to a workstation - are no longer private ;-).

--
Les Connor [SBS MVP]


"TravisF" <tdqh1922@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:1183134625.384440.136570@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Jun 21, 3:58 pm, "Dave Nickason [SBS MVP]"
<gwdib...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
You can have both redirection and Home Folders. That's what I do - I've set
up a different location for the documents outside of the home folders. A
few of my users use the home folder for any purpose they wish, knowing it's
backed up while the desktop PC is not. Most don't use the home folders so a
lot of them are sitting there empty.

You don't need a drive letter for redirection - it's pretty much automatic
and fully configured by group policy.

If something blows up: Right now my docs are redirected to the server and
cached on my local PC with Offline Files. If my client PC blows up, I can
log in at any other PC in the office and see the server copy of my docs -
redirection will be set up on that PC the first time I log in and I'll just
magically see my docs on the server. If the server blows up, I'll be able
to see all the cached copies of my documents that are stored on my local PC.
Although I would not want to rely on the cached copies as my only backup, I
could easily restore from the cache on this PC if I had to.

If I log in at a different PC, my documents will cache in my own profile on
that PC. That can be a minor drawback due to the time taken by the first
sync and the drive space used, but it's a minor annoyance and you're kind of
stuck with it anyway, as the policy is going to force that sync. Users of
shared PCs don't have access to each other's synched files. If I log into a
client PC that I don't normally use, I just cancel the sync. I'm trying to
develop the habit of using the local admin account for routine IT chores at
client PCs to avoid this altogether.

Backup works fine, although I never gave any thought to why. As for
recovering files, the users can do that themselves with shadow copy. If you
need access for the Administrator account, you'll have to take ownership and
change the security settings. This can be a minor pain as the default
permissions don't even let the administrator see the size or number of files
in the users' directories.

I'm not familiar with Netware, but I drank the SBS kool aid in 1998 and
never looked back. Once you roll this out, you'll see that there's little
or nothing that could make redirection any easier than it is. Besides, a
little complexity is good for job security : -) All seriousness aside, my
current SBS box has been running since Feb '06 without a single moment of
unplanned down time. I'm willing to put up with a little complexity for
that level of bulletproof-ness (what's the correct term for the state of
being bulletproof, anyway?).

"TravisF" <tdqh1...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:1182453125.636799.108120@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



> Ok I hope this is not too stupid of me to ask.
> Am about to setup a new sbs 03 server.
> I've worked lots with pcs, general networking , Netware server etc.
> Not many w2k03 servers.

> I am familiar with folder redir, offline files etc.

> I'd like to utilize this for all (15 or so) of my pc users.

> I'm used to the old way of doing network data storage creating a Home
> folder, mapping a common drive letter for each user in a system logon
> script so each user sees U: drive as their respective home personal
> data area. U:\Larry etc. That and we used to have them responsible
> for copying their own data . Can you imagine !!

> Anyway the folder redir / offline files combo looks much better to me.
> The way I see it, they don't even need a drive letter mapped,
> correct?...since the whole thing is transparent anyway?

> Well what if their pc or notebook blows up and they HAVE to get their
> data now - well again (in the old days) they would go to another
> machine, logon as themselves, get their data off their U drive...yes I
> know.. IF they backed it up!

> Ok so what happens now if they do this with folder redir / offline
> enabled - they go to another machine , logon.. won't it try to sync
> the new machine's "my documents" with that on the server? I don't want
> that to happen - just need them to get at their files...in this
> case...off the server. I want to have it as automatic as possible -
> cause otherwise they will forget if its set to manual then they will
> scream where's my documents when its deleted...... you know...

> As well....regarding backup...this excerpt from
>http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/ab9f7e44-afbf-...

> "Grant the user exclusive rights to My Documents. If selected, this
> sets the NTFS security descriptor for the %username% folder to Full
> Control for the user and local system only; this means that
> administrators and other users do not have access rights to the
> folder. This option is enabled by default. Note: Changing this option
> after the policy has been applied to some users will only effect new
> users receiving the policy."

> I'm wondering will a backup application have trouble with this
> if..."administrators and other users do not have access rights to the
> folder".

> Of course we don't want other users to even be able to read others
> documents so yes the user must have exclusivity that way. But
> administrators should be able to "see" everything .
> What if we have to recover a deleted document or folder?

> Man I miss Netware's (NWadmin) simplicity sometimes... (sniff)...

> Thanks;
> Travis- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the replies here.
Ok right. The folder redirection / offline files is working on my sbs
03 server very good.
But am I getting this right from what you are saying?
For instance, when I logon onto my own pc, my documents is redirected
to the server and cached on the pc.
Great. Now if I go to another pc and login with the same id, the "my
documents" on my profile on THAT pc will get redirected on the server.
Won't it overwrite the "my documents" from my own pc? I don't want
that to happen. That seems kinda dumb. I'd like a way so that only my
documents on my pc are redirected regardless if I login elsewhere. Or
for other clients of course who know nothing of this activity.


Thanks;
Travis


.

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