Windows 2000
Windows 2000

Windows 2000 Group Policy

I've applied a domain wide policy for a corporate wallpaper for all users. That works fine. However, I would like to deny this policy when users log in to the terminal services server. I've tried to add the TS computer to the security of the GPO and deny the apply group policy permission, but it doesn't work. If I deny my user the same permission and log on, it works, but for some reason it wont deny for the computer account. Is there something that I'm missing?

Thanks!

BattymoAsked: 2004-04-07

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LVL 87

oBdACommented: 2004-04-07

Trying to deny a *user* GPO to the Terminal Server *computer* will never work. The GPO user settings apply to users only, and it's always the same user, whether he's logging on to a workstation or to a Terminal Server. To use different settings depending on whether the user logs on to his workstation or a Terminal Server, you'll need the "Loopback" feature.
1. Create a new OU, put your Terminal Servers in there. Create a new GPO in your Terminal Server OU, named, for example "Loopback"; check "deactivate userdefined configuration" (I'm not sure about the English name of that entry) in properties. Edit the GPO and enable: Computer Configuration - Administrative Templates - group policies - Activate Loopback mode for group policies (or similar; as I said, I don't use an English version, so check out the explanation tab if unsure). Set the mode to replace (or merge, whatever suits you better).
2. Now you can create your additional GPO(s) for your users in this OU. If possible, check "deactivate computer configuration" in those. Important: Do *not* use the "Loopback" GPO to configure other settings. These GPOs will now only apply if the users logon to a terminal server session. Depending on your loopback mode setting, your regular user GPOs will still apply, but they will be overridden by the settings defined in your terminal server GPO.
Note that you do (or "may") *not* need to put the users in (or below) the TS OU. New GPOs in that OU will be applied to all users logging on using Terminal Services, even though those users are not in/below the TS OU.
To exclude administrators, use the security group filtering. I'd recommend to do the following (for any GPO, not only TS): For every GPO, create a global security group named, for example, GPol<GPO name> (*G*lobal *Pol*icy group for GPO <name>). Make the desired users member of this group. In the security settings for the GPO, remove the "Apply Policy" and the "Read Policy" permission for the default "Authenticated Users", add it for the proper security group instead. That way you're pretty safe from surprises ...

Loopback Processing of Group Policy
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=231287

How to Apply Group Policy Objects to Terminal Services Servers
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=260370

Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding the Group Policy Feature Set
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/planning/management/groupsteps.asp

LVL 40

Fatal_ExceptionSystems EngineerCommented: 2004-04-07

To enable a GPO on a computer account, the Computer Object must be in the container which the GPO is being applied... or the GPO must be applied to the container where the computer resides..

FE

LVL 40

Fatal_ExceptionSystems EngineerCommented: 2004-04-07

So add the computer account and use the Deny permission.. this should work..

BattymoAuthor Commented: 2004-04-07

Tried your suggestion by creating an OU for the terminal services server computer and applying the GPO there, while denying the apply group policy permission for that computer. However, the same thing occurs, and the policy is still applied when I log into the terminal server.

Any thoughts?

LVL 40

Fatal_ExceptionSystems EngineerCommented: 2004-04-07

I am missing something here also... must be the afternoon doldrums creeping up on me.. Did you try creating a separate policy for that container that did not include the wallpaper, and try actually applying it to the computer account..?? Instead of Deny..??

LVL 40

Fatal_ExceptionSystems EngineerCommented: 2004-04-07

Thanks oBdA.. Just not thinking in TS mode today...!! Was hoping someone else would join in the fun here... :)

BattymoAuthor Commented: 2004-04-08

oBdA is the winner!! It works just as you said. Took me a while to find the Activate Loopback policy though. You are my hero, and now I can finally get back to slacking off! Thanks my friend!