File Management

[leco]

When building your file management tree how have you structured it? This is in a Windows 2008 network server setting.

Is it something like:
Profiles/Documents/OU/User
Profiles/Settings/OU/User

OR

Profiles/OU/Documents/User
Profiles/OU/Settings/User

OR

Something else entirely?

If the first then the user profile path, for each user in AD would be quite long. Is this OK? On the other hand with the second one could the user get "confused" and put things in the wrong folder. Or does it not matter much how the tree is set? Is there a kind of best practice for this?

[FN-GM]

We use local profiles so dont have a profile one but for documents we do:

Server > User Documents > Staff > username
Server > User Documents > Students > Year Started > username

[SYNACK]

We use local profiles so dont have a profile one but for documents we do:

Server > User Documents > Staff > username
Server > User Documents > Students > Year Started > username

Same as above but without the start year as we are a primary with profiles following the same form:
Server > User Profiles > Staff > username

[EduTech]

Same as above:

Server>UserAreas>Staff>Username

Server>UserAreas>Students>Username

James.

[mb2k01]

Slightly different than all above...

Server > E$ > Users > Staff > Useraname
Server > E$ > Users > Students > Intake Year > Username

E$ is a partition entirely for user areas which runs disk quota on it.
All individual user areas shared so accessible via \\server\username

Then, (technically not what you asked, but still kind of file structure), we have Folder redirection in place which redirects:
Desktop: \\server\desktops\staff and \\server\desktops\students
My Documents (and all sub folders like my pics etc): \\server\%username%
App Data: \\server\%username%\AppData
Start Menu: \\server\desktops\staff ands \\server\desktops\students (we used to operate seperate menus, but figured as we want the same shortcuts as available on the desktop we might as well just maintain the one area!

[leco]

Slightly different than all above...

Server > E$ > Users > Staff > Useraname
Server > E$ > Users > Students > Intake Year > Username

E$ is a partition entirely for user areas which runs disk quota on it.
All individual user areas shared so accessible via \\server\username

Then, (technically not what you asked, but still kind of file structure), we have Folder redirection in place which redirects:
Desktop: \\server\desktops\staff and \\server\desktops\students
My Documents (and all sub folders like my pics etc): \\server\%username%
App Data: \\server\%username%\AppData
Start Menu: \\server\desktops\staff ands \\server\desktops\students (we used to operate seperate menus, but figured as we want the same shortcuts as available on the desktop we might as well just maintain the one area!

Maybe not what I asked but what I was actually after, thanks. Just shows if you don't know that you don't know then you can't ask the question to get the answer to what you need.

I think folder redirection is what I'm coming unstuck with just now. What share permissions do you have so that the path is \\server\username? That would be most useful and saves having to type long paths when navigating anywhere. Thanks.

[mb2k01]

Lol, glad I was able to help by over-answering!

On the \\server\username share we allow "everybody" full access, not other permissions than that on the share. On the security permissions we have Administrators Full, Supervisors (which is our own low-admin group) Full, and that specific username (07jbloggs) also Full.

Maybe not what I asked but what I was actually after, thanks. Just shows if you don't know that you don't know then you can't ask the question to get the answer to what you need.

I think folder redirection is what I'm coming unstuck with just now. What share permissions do you have so that the path is \\server\username? That would be most useful and saves having to type long paths when navigating anywhere. Thanks.

[leco]

Lol, glad I was able to help by over-answering!

On the \\server\username share we allow "everybody" full access, not other permissions than that on the share. On the security permissions we have Administrators Full, Supervisors (which is our own low-admin group) Full, and that specific username (07jbloggs) also Full.

To do the redirects where do the GPOs sit? Do you have OUs for Staff and another for Students which are linked to each policy? I'm trying to get my head round the whole thing and my brain can't cope. lol.

[mb2k01]

Yeah, we have different OU's for staff and students where these settings are saved.

In the Group Policy console, expand the User Configuration, Windows Settings, and Folder Redirection nodes. All of the places you can redirect will be under there.

To do the redirects where do the GPOs sit? Do you have OUs for Staff and another for Students which are linked to each policy? I'm trying to get my head round the whole thing and my brain can't cope. lol.

[leco]

OK starting to get the picture now, thanks. Will need to think before acting.

[mb2k01]

No worries. If you need anything else post back or PM me