GPP Mapped Drives to Local Directory

[Michael]

Hello all,

 

What's the recommended method when using GPP Mapped Drives to a Local Directory? I've been requested to create this, so when users logon to the domain they can see their mapped Documents hosted on a server and their local Documents (as a separate drive letter) on their local computer. Many thanks!

[FN-GM]

im pretty sure you can only map to a UNC path. You could setup a system to share that folder with a script or something then map the drive with GGP pointing to \\localhost\sharename

[Michael]

Yeah you're right, but here's how I've done it and currently testing.

 

Created a mapped drive on the server as normal using GPP called Local Documents. Make the share read only.

 

Within the share, create a shortcut to C:\Users\Localuser

 

When I setup a notebook, I always create a local account for staff to use, but then rename it to their username afterwards. In doing this, the profile folder structure still remains as Localuser, so it should work for all staff.

[apeo]

If all it is, is a shortcut to local then why cant you just put the shortcut in Desktop and/or Start Menu?

[Michael]

I could of done that, but I've applied Item-level targetting so the drive only appears when staff log onto their notebook, and not other workstations, notebooks or netbooks around school.

 

I've kept the C:\ drive hidden from Computer, but through the shortcut they can just access their local Documents.

 

The targetting I've used is based on Computer Object OU membership. If the Computer Object is in the Teacher Notebook OU, then map the drive in other words.

[apeo]

Ah I see and can I assume you've redirected the Desktop and Start Menu to a network share..

 

I can think of a couple other ways of doing it like using GPP to inject a shortcut using item level targeting or folder on the desktop with the shortcut in but its no better then your solution. Personally, I would probably just stick with a shortcut on the desktop/start menu (maybe inside a folder called Teachers Notebook) and educate users because its one less GPP (with item level targeting) to process.

[Michael]

I think my whole logic behind doing it this way, was that staff understand they can access various staff areas on the network through Computer. Adding another drive to Computer, they're already looking in the right place and can easily transfer data as required.

[AngryTechnician]

Another way to do this would be to run subst in a logon script.

[apeo]

I think my whole logic behind doing it this way, was that staff understand they can access various staff areas on the network through Computer. Adding another drive to Computer, they're already looking in the right place and can easily transfer data as required.

 

Like your logic and it makes them use explorer.

 

 

@AngryTechnician You beat me to it, it just occured to me to create virtual drives and you had posted it up before I could.