winodws 2003 GPO - Folder redirection - offline file??
I have just setup Folder redirection to each user's home folder \\server_name\home\%userna
However, I noticed when user logged off, it starts syncing to the server... This is not just for offline file?
I am just redirecting the folder to the location on server. It's like when you go to a share location on server by typing URL \\server_ip\share folder, everything I create is saved directly there, why it's syncing??
From my understanding, offline file is saved locally first and when we log off, it upload to the server location.
when we go to a share folder on server, I never seen this happened.
However, I noticed when user logged off, it starts syncing to the server... This is not just for offline file?
I am just redirecting the folder to the location on server. It's like when you go to a share location on server by typing URL \\server_ip\share folder, everything I create is saved directly there, why it's syncing??
From my understanding, offline file is saved locally first and when we log off, it upload to the server location.
when we go to a share folder on server, I never seen this happened.
dfxdeimos
You have offline files enabled in addition to folder redirection?
ASKER
Just to clear thign out. It's for home folder in user profile. In folder redirection, I setup "my Documents" to "Redirect to the user's home directory". Then I didin't touch anything.
On client pc, click "My Documents", folder there all have "Make available offline" checked and it's grayed out!!
However, if I create a new folder there, by default, "Make available offline" is not checked and I also have the option to "Make available offline"
On client pc, click "My Documents", folder there all have "Make available offline" checked and it's grayed out!!
However, if I create a new folder there, by default, "Make available offline" is not checked and I also have the option to "Make available offline"
If it is grayed out that means it is (likely) set somewhere in a GPO. Run as RSOP logging mode on the workstation and post the results.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Good point coolsport00!! I also found this in Technet!
And I think this is only occurred when it's set in folder redirection, right?
>>You can disable this by disabling offline file shares in Group Policy.
You mean to right click on the home folder -> sharing -> caching -> "Files or programs from the share will not be available offline"?
But if this folder also share with laptop user, what do you do?
And I think this is only occurred when it's set in folder redirection, right?
>>You can disable this by disabling offline file shares in Group Policy.
You mean to right click on the home folder -> sharing -> caching -> "Files or programs from the share will not be available offline"?
But if this folder also share with laptop user, what do you do?
ASKER
In addition, if it's not the same folder, let's say to their own home folder, how can you do?
My structure is \\server_name\home\%userna
and by default the "Home" share folder is set to "only the files and programs that user specify will be available offline".
How can you make desktop user disabled and laptop user enabled?
My structure is \\server_name\home\%userna
and by default the "Home" share folder is set to "only the files and programs that user specify will be available offline".
How can you make desktop user disabled and laptop user enabled?
Put them in different OUs and apply different GPOs to them.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
I see. The policy to disable offline files folder is in both place.... computer configuration and user configuration...... which one should I use??
So if I want to do your way, first you created the GPO to DISABLE Offline File Sharing at domain level and "I then placed my laptop users in a security group; and placed my laptop computers in a security group and added each security group to the Delegation tab and DENIED the policy to those users/computers."
Not clear... do you mean you created a security group and put it in different OU and from there you block inheritance?
So if I want to do your way, first you created the GPO to DISABLE Offline File Sharing at domain level and "I then placed my laptop users in a security group; and placed my laptop computers in a security group and added each security group to the Delegation tab and DENIED the policy to those users/computers."
Not clear... do you mean you created a security group and put it in different OU and from there you block inheritance?
ASKER
Hi coolsport00, forgot another question....
From my understanding, offline file is used when user disconnect from network and by default, when they connect pc back to the network and log off, sync take in place.
So in my case, I didn't even disconnect my computer, but when I log off, when it's syncing???
From my understanding, offline file is used when user disconnect from network and by default, when they connect pc back to the network and log off, sync take in place.
So in my case, I didn't even disconnect my computer, but when I log off, when it's syncing???
First post - Yes, I created the GPO at a high level in my domain so all would receive it; I then created 2 security groups...1 with users and 1 with computers. The users group are all who use a laptop. The computers group has all laptop computer objects in it. In GPMC...on the Delegation tab, you can add security groups explicitly to apply or deny the GPO. You want to DENY the GPO to your laptop users/computers so they WILL have offline file sync.
2nd post - Yes, you are correct on your understanding of offline files.
~coolsport00
2nd post - Yes, you are correct on your understanding of offline files.
~coolsport00
ASKER
Hi coolsport00,
But I still don't understand why if client never disconnect connection and when he log off, why it's syncing?
But I still don't understand why if client never disconnect connection and when he log off, why it's syncing?
I dont think I understand your post, but let me try...are you saying you don't understand why if a person doesn't disconnect from the network, then why does it sync? It syncs because that is the functionality of Offline File synchronization. Upon logging off, the PC will sync with the server to place the most current version on the computer. That way, when the computer is disconnected, it will have the most current version the user can work with. Make sense?
Regards.
~coolsport00
Regards.
~coolsport00
ASKER
yes. This is what I wanted to ask.
I think I got it..... by using \\servername\folder, it directly use the file on server.
By enabling the offline function, it will store it at local pc first, no matter the connection is connected or disconnected. Upon user logoff, local copy will sync with the server copy.
Correct? if I am right, does the local copy get deleted?
I think I got it..... by using \\servername\folder, it directly use the file on server.
By enabling the offline function, it will store it at local pc first, no matter the connection is connected or disconnected. Upon user logoff, local copy will sync with the server copy.
Correct? if I am right, does the local copy get deleted?
ASKER
Continue...
One thing that confused me was here in the screenshot.
\\192.168.1.3\ is a network path to the server.
If I didn't enable offline file, I was not able to access it.
I was confused here because I thought no matter the offline file is enabled or disabled, there should had nothing to do with it.
Now if I am right, I think there is always a local copy and server copy. They have to be the same(syncing does the job). when user logoff, local copy get sync with server copy. and local copy will not be deleted.
offline.JPG
One thing that confused me was here in the screenshot.
\\192.168.1.3\ is a network path to the server.
If I didn't enable offline file, I was not able to access it.
I was confused here because I thought no matter the offline file is enabled or disabled, there should had nothing to do with it.
Now if I am right, I think there is always a local copy and server copy. They have to be the same(syncing does the job). when user logoff, local copy get sync with server copy. and local copy will not be deleted.
offline.JPG
I see...yes, you should be able to access your server regardless if file sharing is enabled or not. That's a whole other issue though (may need to post a different question).
Yes, there is a local copy that is placed on the PC, but the orig copy is always on the server. Upon log off or on, synchronizatin occurs.
Regards.
~coolsport00
Yes, there is a local copy that is placed on the PC, but the orig copy is always on the server. Upon log off or on, synchronizatin occurs.
Regards.
~coolsport00
ASKER
Thank you!!
>>orig copy is always on the server.
what's this??
Just want to make sure again... Correct me if I were wrong.
I think it's just like roaming profile. there is a local copy, it will never get deleted(by default).
And by default, it sync when logging off.
But how is this situation? If I am working on a network file and my computer suddenly shut itself.
So after I reboot my pc, when it sync? only when I logoff? (default setting)
>>orig copy is always on the server.
what's this??
Just want to make sure again... Correct me if I were wrong.
I think it's just like roaming profile. there is a local copy, it will never get deleted(by default).
And by default, it sync when logging off.
But how is this situation? If I am working on a network file and my computer suddenly shut itself.
So after I reboot my pc, when it sync? only when I logoff? (default setting)
ASKER
I think this link is good enough for my question http://it.cas.psu.edu/Training/HowTo/ENComputers/offlinefiles.htm