XP {Profiles

[faza]

Hi,

 

I have a Windows Server 2003 network with XP pro clients. When users logon to the network it copies everything from their home directory on the server to the local machine they are loggin on to. Is this correct? As you can imagine if the profile is large 300mb and there is like 100-150 users logging on simultaneously it is a really strain on the netowrk.

 

Is this the correct procedure to copy all the work down to the workstation?

 

If so how can i stop this happening, i thought a feasible solution would be to only logon on to the network and then to access the folders and files when the user neded them. This would reduce the network traffic tremendously.

[ChrisH]

You need to disable offline files in Group policy. A quick search should bring you full instructions.

[faza]

Will that stop the work and everything being copied to the local machine (the machine that the user is loggining on with)?

[ChrisH]

Yes it will.

[faza]

Should be a lot faster at logging on then aswell if it is not copying all the work across.

[Ric_]

@faza: There are also policy settings for limiting profile size and re-directing common folders (e.g. Desktop, Start Menu, etc.)

 

It might be worth you have a quick read through the wiki on profiles.

[faza]

Ric_ i have redirected the desktop and the Start Menu to a specific location. I think it is just the work that is being copied down to the local machine everytime a user logs in. Can this be stopped using offline files. Would i disable this is the group policy or on the local machine?

[Ric_]

@faza: use a GPO to disable offline files.

[faza]

I have tried this under the Group Policy

 

\Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Offline Files\Allow or Disallow use of the Offline Files feature and set it to "Disabled" but still copying the work across to the local machine.

[Geoff]

empty the offline files cache on the affected machine.

[faza]

I have done that but it is still copying the work across to the local machine. This is a roaming profile will this GPO still work?

[Geoff]

Are you forcing offline files on the server share?

[Irazmus]

i have redirected the desktop and the Start Menu to a specific location.

 

Try redirecting My Documents aswell. If my understanding of profiles is right, anything that's not redirected or excluded via GPO will be copied locally.

[faza]

The home directories of the users are not shared.

[faza]

I have tried removing the option from the user folders. I cant think what else i could try As it takes some time for all users to logon (up to 10 muinutes) as it is copying all the work down to the local machine then it has an effect on other users as it slows down the rest as it is still copying.

[faza]

I have been trying everything today but cannot stop the work being copied down to the local machine

[Gatt]

faza, you say your users home directories are not shared.. i assume then you are using this : \\server\home_share$\home_folder where home_share$ is where the share is?

 

you need to check this share to ensure offline files is not active as stated by Geoff as well as your GPO settings for offline files.

[faza]

Yes that is correct ok, but when i done that i had the synchronisation arrows on the desktop icons to suggest that the folders are being synchronised.

[faza]

I have researched all yesterday afternoon abouty this issue and all thay it says is disabling the offline caching and to disable this object in Group Policy "\Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Offline Files\Allow or Disallow"

 

I have also enabled and disabled the prevent use offline files folders. But is still not making any difference.

 

Currently our home directory in the Group Policy\\servername\users\yearx\homedirectory

 

users - this is a shared folder with offline caching disabled

yearx - is a specific folder for which year the child is in (Not Shared)

homedirectory - the folder for the pupil (Not Shared)

 

We have re-directed

 

My Documetns - Same Location going to home directory

Desktop - Specified Location

Start Menu - Specified Location

 

Any more ideas

 

faza

[Gatt]

Faza,

 

you say you have configured this in th computer config section of your GPO - have you done it in the user config as well?

 

I've attached the GPMC dump of my policy for pupils for you to look thru.

 

 

EDIT: Uploaded correct GPO!!

pupil_policy_199.htm

[Ric_]

Here are some of my policy settings... the offline files ones might help

[Ric_]

The settings apply to the computer, not the user IIRC... that's how mine work anyway.

[Gatt]

Just looking through my Pupil GPO and noticed the following option:

 

Do not automatically make redirected folders available offline

 

All redirected shell folders, such as My Documents, Desktop, Start Menu, and Application Data, are available offline by default. This setting allows you to change this behavior so that redirected shell folders are not automatically available for offline use. However, users can still choose to make files and folders available offline themselves.

 

If you enable this setting, the users must manually select the files they wish to be made available offline.

 

If you disable this setting or do not configure it, redirected shell folders are automatically made available offline. All subfolders within the redirected folders are also made available offline.

 

Note: This setting does not prevent files from being automatically cached if the network share is configured for "Automatic Caching", nor does it affect the availability of the "Make Available Offline" menu option in the user interface.

 

Note: Do not enable this setting unless you are certain that users will not need access to all of their redirected files in the event that the network or server holding the redirected files becomes unavailable.

 

Not sure if you have this enabled Faza - it's enabled in mine.

[GrumbleDook]

IIRC when it was turned off here we also had to manually turn it off at each share ... or rather Stephen did ... something to do when he was bored I suppose :-)

[faza]

Im sorry i have checked through both Group Policies but the it is still happening the work is still being copied down to the local machine.