Google Drive File Stream

[TwistedHelixis]

I have a few teachers that currently use the old Google drive like a USB key and like to backup those files to a USB drive just in case. I have just done some testing and it looks like File Stream will also let them backup to a USB key (copy / Paste). Can someone just confirm that it does do this.

 

I was also wondering if the built-in Windows 10 backup will also be able to backup File Stream files but not tested this yet.

[DGardiner]

Had anyone had issues getting it to work with their filtering? It doesn't seem to sign in when I go via Smoothwall but nothing is appearing as blocked.

 

i had to disable authentication/inspection for a google api url to get it to connect at one of our sites

 

apis.google.com

[jmak]

So File Stream is intended to move us to the cloud - which don't object to in principle, but gives us a single point of failure. The application doesn't run on Server OS, but what do we think would happen if I ran a desktop OS on my host machine and mapped its File Stream drive as a network share? I could create a user that has access to all of the Team Drives and set that machine to keep an offline copy of everything . I was thinking of having a GPO to map it that I would only apply if the Broadband goes down.

 

I'm thinking that it must bork something major somewhere 'cos it sounds too easy....

Also wondering what kind of disk performance I should expect running a desktop OS on server hardware?

[Steve21]

So File Stream is intended to move us to the cloud - which don't object to in principle, but gives us a single point of failure. The application doesn't run on Server OS, but what do we think would happen if I ran a desktop OS on my host machine and mapped its File Stream drive as a network share? I could create a user that has access to all of the Team Drives and set that machine to keep an offline copy of everything . I was thinking of having a GPO to map it that I would only apply if the Broadband goes down.

 

I'm thinking that it must bork something major somewhere 'cos it sounds too easy....

Also wondering what kind of disk performance I should expect running a desktop OS on server hardware?

 

I'd argue what the point of going to the cloud is if that's the case As you'd still need the same amount of storage etc locally to be able to backup to, all the same work for permissions/settings whatnot for GPOs etc to be able to do incase the net went down.

 

In reality you could do the same as tried that with OneDrive before (Just use a VM on the host running windows os etc) and then can map to that, no need to change the whole server OS, then no issue with hardware etc either. The downsides are you're effectively doubling the net traffic for it as sync'ing it locally as well as pulling it for work online. Changes etc would all sync as that "said user". Changes made on a mobile device/4G etc would conflict with a local change made on your mapped drive etc.

 

If the main concern was just getting shared drives back (as in for admin users etc) wouldn't it be better to look at a cheap secondary internet connection just for them as a backup? doesn't need super speed or filtering etc as it's only a oh shi.. moment

 

Steve

[mavhc]

So File Stream is intended to move us to the cloud - which don't object to in principle, but gives us a single point of failure. The application doesn't run on Server OS, but what do we think would happen if I ran a desktop OS on my host machine and mapped its File Stream drive as a network share? I could create a user that has access to all of the Team Drives and set that machine to keep an offline copy of everything . I was thinking of having a GPO to map it that I would only apply if the Broadband goes down.

 

I'm thinking that it must bork something major somewhere 'cos it sounds too easy....

Also wondering what kind of disk performance I should expect running a desktop OS on server hardware?

 

I'm betting ~0 difference between server os and desktop os. But yeah, don't move to the cloud if you don't want 50% of usage to be remote from your LAN, no point.

[mjk]

@jmak "Server OS" is a construct created by Microsoft to sell licenses. It doesn't really mean anything on anything other than windows and I doubt they'd cripple disk performance on the desktop or write bad drivers intentionally.

 

I'd argue what the point of going to the cloud is if that's the case As you'd still need the same amount of storage etc locally to be able to backup to, all the same work for permissions/settings whatnot for GPOs etc to be able to do incase the net went down.

It doesn't work like that. Google Apps files are stored in Google Drive, not locally - you only get a link.

 

I'm very suprised people are still talking about internet going down! It is such a mission critical system here we now have two backup lines. I'm not sure the school could operate if we had no internet access as it would undermine our safeguarding procedures.

[Steve21]

It doesn't work like that. Google Apps files are stored in Google Drive, not locally - you only get a link.

 

Not if you do it like the OP asked

 

set that machine to keep an offline copy of everything

 

Steve

[Mr_Jiminy]

Can I confirm the timeline/ lifespan for the now legacy sync client... Will it continue to work and only support stop, or will it stop working from a particular date?

[mjk]

Not if you do it like the OP asked

I see. Reading it again I see that the entire post looks like a ramble of misunderstandings.

[FN-GM]

@jmak I'm very suprised people are still talking about internet going down! It is such a mission critical system here we now have two backup lines. I'm not sure the school could operate if we had no internet access as it would undermine our safeguarding procedures.

 

Agreed. If you have Raid and 2 power suppliers in servers a second internet connection is a no brainier.

[Arthur]

Will it continue to work and only support stop, or will it stop working from a particular date?

 

https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/07/google-launches-drive-file-stream-to-replace-the-google-drive-desktop-app-for-g-suite-users/

 

The older Google Drive desktop software will no longer be supported beginning on 11th December 2017, and it will shut down completely on 12th March 2018, Google says.

 

https://support.google.com/a/answer/7491633

Edited October 11, 2017 by Arthur

[jmak]

I see. Reading it again I see that the entire post looks like a ramble of misunderstandings.

Thanks 😁

 

 

If the main concern was just getting shared drives back (as in for admin users etc) wouldn't it be better to look at a cheap secondary internet connection just for them as a backup? doesn't need super speed or filtering etc as it's only a oh shi.. moment [emoji14]

 

Steve

 

 

Agreed. If you have Raid and 2 power suppliers in servers a second internet connection is a no brainier.

That would be better, but on the current deal we have, a back up line is prohibitively expensive. The router has a spare WAN port, but it belongs to the supplier and we're not allowed to connect anyone else's service to it. Our filtering is LA hosted Lightspeed, so we wouldn't be able to connect AN Other's internet line to it. When we take out a new contract next year I hope we'll get a backup line and the issue will go away.

 

I know it's not the approach that any kind of Solution Design would come up with. However, our organisation isn't ready to make the move to 100% cloud. I was trying to come up with some kind of hybrid cloud solution that moves us towards it and doesn't cost anything. I'm also hopeful of introducing Chromebooks, so SharePoint/Onedrive isn't my first choice.

[FN-GM]

I was trying to come up with some kind of hybrid cloud solution that moves us towards it and doesn't cost anything. I'm also hopeful of introducing Chromebooks, so SharePoint/Onedrive isn't my first choice.

 

The money saved moving to ChromeOS, using G Suite and some other cloud services easily paid for an upgrade to the internet and a backup. We even have plenty of surplus for other things.

[FN-GM]

Ah! After reading comment on here about it not being supported on a Server, I give it a go on our RDS boxes. It won't let you install. RDS is effectively used a Windows workstation !

[jmak]

The money saved moving to ChromeOS, using G Suite and some other cloud services easily paid for an upgrade to the internet and a backup. We even have plenty of surplus for other things.

 

And that's why I want to do it!

 

 

Ah! After reading comment on here about it not being supported on a Server, I give it a go on our RDS boxes. It won't let you install. RDS is effectively used a Windows workstation !

 

Installed fine on my Win 10 Edu test VM

 

I've quite successfully derailed the thread, so to try and head back in the right direction...

 

Has anyone tested what happens when multiple users edit files offline? I'm thinking non-Google Docs file formats, e.g. two teachers work on a Smart Notebook file offline. I'm hoping it would be rare - one of the intended benefits of introducing Google Suite is reducing the amount of offline work. The current solution is Offline Folders in Windows (no remote access to the server) which just generates dozens of very similar files being saved on the server and no one really knowing which version to work with.

[FN-GM]

"Installed fine on my Win 10 Edu test VM"

 

But that is Windows 10 not Windows Server?

[gh5000]

I've got it installed on Server 2016. Can only think that I installed it on there in the very early days of the beta before the restriction. Runs fine and auto updates to latest versions without breaking.

[jmak]

"Installed fine on my Win 10 Edu test VM"

 

But that is Windows 10 not Windows Server?

 

Sorry - my misunderstanding. I thought you were suggesting that the fact it wouldn't install on your RDS implied it wouldn't install on a client OS running in a VM.

[mavhc]

Compatibility mode?

[FN-GM]

Got a new problem. When you install it, the application sits in a folder named after the version number EG: C:\Program Files\Google\Drive File Stream\25.1.63.1725

 

As a result when you put on a newer version it breaks the redirected shortcut in the start menu.

[tj2419]

Has anyone got students using this yet?

[NotSoFast]

Slightly off topic, but having file stream has really made me realise I almost never use desktop applications any more. I got it installed with the idea that I'd try to see if I could just save there and bypass My Documents. I've barely used it, because 99% of my work is in the browser. The only folder I actually use is Downloads, which I clear out every so often.

[jthompson]

I'm just looking into trying Drive File Stream, but it can't cope with our proxy/filtering by the looks. It fails after clicking the 'Allow' permissions button.

 

So yeah, I'll probably just leave it for now. TBH I doubt it would do anything much more than complicate the concept of cloud storage for end users anyway. Think I need to get people more acquainted with using Google Drive at a basic level (i.e. browser only) first.

 

Urgh. Feeling behind the curve

[DGardiner]

I'm just looking into trying Drive File Stream, but it can't cope with our proxy/filtering by the looks. It fails after clicking the 'Allow' permissions button.

 

So yeah, I'll probably just leave it for now. TBH I doubt it would do anything much more than complicate the concept of cloud storage for end users anyway. Think I need to get people more acquainted with using Google Drive at a basic level (i.e. browser only) first.

 

Urgh. Feeling behind the curve

 

youre intercepting/blocking apis.google.com is the programs bouncing add it to exceptions and it should run

[eduncle]

I've been using this for a month or so and am very impressed. I'm having issues though getting it to work through a Proxy PAC file, it works fine with the manual proxy settings but throws a proxy error up when I try to use the PAC file. Anyone had similar issues?

We're finding the same (albeit on Mac OS Sierra), GDFS works fine with manual proxy settings but not with a wpad / pac auto configuration when it throws a 'Can't reach Google Drive' error. Does anyone have any suggestions on this?