Re: ROAMING PROFILES & OFFLINE FILES

mark-docendo <markdocendo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thanks for that makes more sense now

What would be the best way of removing the roaming prifiles without
loosing any configurations like word macros etc.

Hmmm. Well, why remove them? I'd simply fix them - if you follow the steps I
provided they should work fine. :)

Even if your users rarely roam, it certainly makes desktop replacement a lot
easier when you've got them. Same with migration to a new domain, if that
ever comes up. Keep them tiny, and they should work.

Redirecting Application Data as well as My Documents & Desktop, will
accomplish most of what you wish. But a lot of things won't follow users -
IE favorites, for example. So, I'd stick with roaming profiles, but get a
better understanding of how they work & how to *make* them work.

If you're concerned about users logging into the domain simultaneously on
multiple computers, you can restrict that - or just train them.


Also can I delete the user profile thats jammed on the local machine
or will that utility deal with this?

Jammed? Don't know what that means. If you mean remove cached profiles, then
no - but group policy can remove those if you wish. I don't, because it
takes so little time for login with a cached profile, and that seems useful
to me, especially as most users don't roam. Instead, I use delprof from the
resource kit and have a batch file that runs daily to purge all computers of
roaming profiles that haven't been used in 30 days. This works in a small
network - wouldn't in a large one.


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

mark-docendo <markdocendo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Can anyone throw any light on what has gone wrong - I have no
experience with roaming profiles at all.
I have inherited an installation that has both of the above and
today loged on to two computers using the same logon at the same
time (something I do all the time normally without RP's)

Don't do that if you have a roaming profile - see below.

Problem is Word
now opens deadly slow when using the users usual PC. If the user
logs onto another pc all ok. and if log another user onto the
offending PC word is fine.
Problem seems to be made worse and hang word completely if opening
anything from one particular directory on server.
can anyone tell me what I did wrong.
possible resolution.
and is it easy to remove roaming profiles & offline files.
THANKS
MARK

Offline files are not related to roaming profiles - nor to folder
redirection. I would disable offline files entirely if it were my
network. Here's my boilerplate on roaming profiles - they can work
very well if they're set up properly - but shouldn't be attempted if
they aren't.


---

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! (that's on by default -
disable it)

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/user profiles -
there's an option to add administrators group to the roaming
profiles permissions.

Notes:

* Make sure users understand that they should not 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. Via group policy, redirect My Documents
at the very least - to a subfolder of the user's home directory or
user folder. Also consider redirecting Desktop & Application Data
similarly..... so the user will have:

\\server\home$\%username%\My Documents,
\\server\home$\%username%\Desktop,
\\server\home$\%username%\Application Data.

Alternatively, just manually re-target My Documents to
\\server\home$\%username% (this is not optimal, however!)

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


Roaming profile & folder redirection article -
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Profile-Folder-Redirection-Windows-Server-2003.html



.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: user settings not being saved
    ... Different computers on the same ... roaming profiles will not be fun and I'd avoid using ... If you aren't going to also redirect the desktop using policies, ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.group_policy)
  • Re: Roaming profiles vs OffLine File Sync
    ... I would like more info on roaming users in SBS2003 can you help? ... Of course, I found if the server was not available, no body could log ... I love roaming profiles, and I love folder redirection. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: Redirected Roaming Profiles
    ... You are using roaming profiles and an Event error is logged. ... The cache option for Offline Files has been enabled. ... Microsoft Online Partner Support ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.general)
  • RE: Terminal Services w/ printers
    ... Seems like 2 different profiles. ... roaming profile. ... Policy Setting ... MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.terminal_services)
  • Re: xp pro only network
    ... Michael wrote: ... > network using these computers which has the ability to use roaming ... You can only use roaming profiles in a domain environment, ... Elephant Boy Computers ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)