imranrft
asked on
What happens to Offline Files when server crashes?
Hi everyone,
We had our file server crashed last week. This server was used for redirected user Desktop and My Documents folder.
This was setup with Folder Redirection along with Offline Files group policy. All user files were set to be available offline on server disconnect.
When server crashed, users continued to work on the offline copies of their files. We rebuilt the server and unfortunately we couldn't recover the lost data and there was no backup either.
Now, as per the mechanism of Offline Files, since everyone got an offline copy, no problem at user side.
But what should happen when server is back online? Shouldn't it synchronize all offline files from users back to the server again?
Since the server is back online, offline files from user PCs just disappeared. Reboot/Logoff/Logon didn't help even though at log off it shows synchronizing with server successfully.
On the server side we found files available but not all the files. More than 80% of data is missing.
Any help will be really really appreciated.
We had our file server crashed last week. This server was used for redirected user Desktop and My Documents folder.
This was setup with Folder Redirection along with Offline Files group policy. All user files were set to be available offline on server disconnect.
When server crashed, users continued to work on the offline copies of their files. We rebuilt the server and unfortunately we couldn't recover the lost data and there was no backup either.
Now, as per the mechanism of Offline Files, since everyone got an offline copy, no problem at user side.
But what should happen when server is back online? Shouldn't it synchronize all offline files from users back to the server again?
Since the server is back online, offline files from user PCs just disappeared. Reboot/Logoff/Logon didn't help even though at log off it shows synchronizing with server successfully.
On the server side we found files available but not all the files. More than 80% of data is missing.
Any help will be really really appreciated.
How is your redirected folders policy set up?
What you could try is to change the redirection policy to "redirect the folder back to the local userprofile location when the policy is removed". Run a gpupdate. When the machines log off, I would think they would copy the documents from the offline file storage folder to %USERPROFILE%\Documents.
If that works, after a day or so, you can recreate the redirection policy.
What you could try is to change the redirection policy to "redirect the folder back to the local userprofile location when the policy is removed". Run a gpupdate. When the machines log off, I would think they would copy the documents from the offline file storage folder to %USERPROFILE%\Documents.
If that works, after a day or so, you can recreate the redirection policy.
Also, look at this link: http://www.jacksontechnical.com/article.htm?id=34
For users that are showing blank documents, you may be able to check their offline files folder.
For users that are showing blank documents, you may be able to check their offline files folder.
When user is working on any files offline,it will be kept in local cache called client side cache on connection to the server it will contact & sync it can be on log-on or log off but i don't know what happened in your case. you can try with CSC & see if it works for you pointed by Jmoody10.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/23121600/Workstation-tries-to-synch-offline-files-with-old-server-which-is-offline.html
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/23121600/Workstation-tries-to-synch-offline-files-with-old-server-which-is-offline.html
ASKER
The server HDD crashed totally. Couldn't recover any data.
Synchronization was set at log off. Since the server has been rebuilt, many users already logged off or rebooted their PCs and not getting any files except the recent ones. No files at server side either except the recent ones.
Synchronization was set at log off. Since the server has been rebuilt, many users already logged off or rebooted their PCs and not getting any files except the recent ones. No files at server side either except the recent ones.
ASKER
We have nearly 50 users affected out of 200. I believe those 50 are the ones who logged off/rebooted their PCs.
So, should we stop the Offline Files group policy to avoid remaining users from getting affected?
OR
removing Offline Files GPO will further complicate the matter?
So, should we stop the Offline Files group policy to avoid remaining users from getting affected?
OR
removing Offline Files GPO will further complicate the matter?
I wouldn't remove it. Give me a couple of hours and I will create a virtual environment to replicate your problem. Can you upload your offline files policy and redirected folders policy?
Also, what are the current share/NTFS permissions on the new file server share where documents need to be?
Also, what are the current share/NTFS permissions on the new file server share where documents need to be?
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As you haven't got a backup , it is a scary situation. best advise would to ask user to backup their important data on external media ie cd/dvd/ USBs etc as soon as possible.
did you have to rebuild the server or just restart has done the trick. if just restarted, then you should have all your data until unless the hard disk has died which is a different scenario.