Guru42

Just curious if you ever tried Clonezilla, what you thought of it. I don't see a lot of people using it like I used to. It's open source (aka Free) so if you don't have a budget for software it fills the need.

I agree with you 100%, but when you come into an environment your co-workers don't always appreciate your years of experience, and you are still the "new guy" with "new ideas." Having to provide reasons for making changes to do things that you state, " that's generally how it's done," can be a bit frustrating. My apologies if this sounds like a rant, but just giving my perspective for asking the questions. Thanks for the feedback!

I know this question gets asked from time to time, wanted a fresh perspective. Searching MS doesn't seem to be a "best practices" way for creating a home directory is there one? As in GPO drive map versus AD home directory creation in user object? At my current location they use GPO for drive mappings and have always used that method: Drive Map (Drive: H) H: (Order: 6) Action Update PropertiesLetter H Location \\server\users\%username% Reconnect Enabled Currently with the Home Drive H: using GPO there are intermittent issues with it not working. Other drives created with GPO working, just issues with home. Only difference with home is variable used --> %username% I "grew up" in networking learning directory services from the world of Novell Netware and have taken that experience over to the world of MS Active Directory. I remember learning NW Admin where the home directory was created as part of creating a user object, creating users from user template objects. Now that I have suggested creating the home drive in AD where I am now, I get asked to document the reasons for wanting to change things. It sets you back a step when some challenges why you do things a certain way when you've doing that way with no problems for years. Searching for answers on Microsoft site difficult at times looking for best practices. You can find numerous ways on how to do things, but how to do it is not always best practices for using it.

Thanks to everyone who contributed here. I went through all the info, still having issues with both methods. When I use SCUP I get --> Error connecting to Configuration Manager Server When I use WPP --> Looks like updates deployed and applied, but fail to install on workstation I "inherited" this installation of WSUS, it was already installed by my predecessor. So I am re-thinking things, wondering if I should just re-install WSUS from scratch. I opened a new thread on WSUS installed with other server services. I wanted to keep it separate from the topic of just WSUS.

I am having issues with the WSUS server and thinking of rebuilding or reinstalling WSUS. Debating best home for WSUS server. WSUS is currently on a VM running as an App server with 8GB. No problems with server or utilization. The only problem is if I completely re-install WSUS services and experiment with other SUS products I can't reboot the server during the week because too many people are using it. There's also a small share volume on it as well which contains files people are always using. I have a Dell PowerEdge R530 with 32GB of RAM that runs the Backup Exec. Incrementals at night copied to a HDD, Full back up to HDD and tape on weekends. Seems like a powerful box that's only used a few hours a week for a very specific purpose. Seems like a good place to install SUS. The only drawback I see is that is SUS is pulling updates in middle of the night would have to be scheduled after the backup, but that doesn't seem like an issue, incrementals are only taking about 30 minutes each night during the week. Seems like a lot of server for one purpose. Also another advantage is I can reboot this server without interfering with other people working, Anyone see any issues with WSUS and Backup Exec on same box? Am I missing anything here in my thinking???

Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to revisit SCUP. The documentation I found on it did not look at that quick and easy. I tried using Wsus Package Publisher to push down Flash and Reader, followed what looked like quick and easy instructions on the website, but updates are giving errors. I should know that the first rule of tech is that nothing is ever as easy as it looks.

I am really surprised that for as much as Adobe plugins are forced upon up, how little is offered by Adobe in way of network administration tools. I am looking for ways to updating the typical browser plugs Flash / Shockwave / Reader. Searching Adobe's site I see that AUSST is part of the Creative Cloud Packager installer suite for Creative Suite and Creative Cloud applications, looks like for Adobe Enterprise application users. I found some information on System Center Updates Publisher (SCUP) on Adobe's website, but like AUSST, the documentation is based on the assumption you are a user of Adobe Enterprise products, not just browser plugins. In researching I found Wsus Package Publisher Free Tool for Publishing Third-Party Updates or Applications to Wsus https://wsuspackagepublisher.codeplex.com/ I see a few older conversations on Wsus Package Publisher, but nothing recent. I added to this information to this thread, hoping to stir up some new conversation, hopefully by anyone using Wsus Package Publisher for product such as Flash / Shockwave / Reader. Issues? Problems? Success stories?

Good answer! So far this method has worked well for me! I've been pleasantly surprised with Win 10, so far no major issues that I can see for very basic use as you describe.

Very weird, the user reports to me, " I see my computer on the left side and on the right side all I see is the Dropbox option, my external hard drive does not show up there." I found what appears to be a similar problem on WD website, but almost sounds like ransom wear! Here's a guy that's having a similar issue: https://community.wd.com/t/forced-to-back-up-to-dropbox-i-dont-think-so/28137/4 The users computer is Windows 8.1 4.00 GB RAM 64-bit OS 1.30 GHz The user thought perhaps the problem started after a Windows update. I've been trying to help the end over the phone and remotely but getting no where. I know I need to pick up the drive and bring it home and try to access it via a linux boot. Just wondering if anyone here had any weird experinces with Western Digital external drives that sound like this.

RE;>> then rotate. So the last 3 weeks always offsite So when those tapes come back onsite, how long do you store them? (or just re-use or destroy?) RE: >> cloud backup Any long term retention there? Or just re-use / recycle space as needed?

Yea, I know, questions like this get asked periodically, but I am not looking for software solutions as much as I am interested in hearing strategies. Have improvements in cloud storage changed your thinking? Do you go directly from server to cloud? Use a periodic VM snapshot as a backup? Copy snapshots to the cloud? Anyone still using tape in the process? Does cloud take the place of other types of offsite storage? Hopefully this thread will be OK here. Looking for a good place to start this conversation. Hoping for some input on establishing some "best practices" guidelines for our organization. Trying to come up with an orderly (and documented) process of who gets the tapes out of the drive in server room, who sends them offsite, how tapes are maintained stored onsite. Currently have an ongoing (nightly) incremental backup to disk, will a full backup to disk, dupe to tape, done every weekend. Anyone have any systems or procedures they use to manage tapes? -- Rotation to offsite storage, how long to retain tapes, what to ship off, what to retain.

I am glad to have found this forum. I recently installed a large group of Win 7 workstations with IE 10 and like many of you I was going crazy trying to understand why the internet proxy settings kept getting blown out. The group policy looked fine, and the problem seems to only happen on the Win 7 / IE 10 workstations. Perhaps is it simply a MS glitch using group policies with Win 7 and IE 10, maybe something else. I was searching on what registry keys to push down when I found this forum. Very nice! This find has saved me a lot of time! I will lurk here from time to time to learn the issues of the day, and hope to be able to contribute back to the community.