Alternative to roaming profiles for laptops
We are constantly having issues with laptop users and there roaming profiles backing up correctly. whether it be because they start shutting down there computer and immediately eject it from the docking station or they have been gone for some time and when the come back it doesnt sync up correctly.
I am wondering if there is a working alternate solution. Folder redirection wont work because then they need to be connected to vpn to access there data and using microsofts sync utility is a disaster.
My boss is very adamant that they should not have to worry about backing up there own data and we should be making sure it is done for them.
i was thinking some kind of robocopy script for when there in the office they can just double click it and copy desktops and documents to the server.
if anyone has any suggestions i would greatly appreciate it. thank you!
I am wondering if there is a working alternate solution. Folder redirection wont work because then they need to be connected to vpn to access there data and using microsofts sync utility is a disaster.
My boss is very adamant that they should not have to worry about backing up there own data and we should be making sure it is done for them.
i was thinking some kind of robocopy script for when there in the office they can just double click it and copy desktops and documents to the server.
if anyone has any suggestions i would greatly appreciate it. thank you!
File redirection will work, along with offline files.
Sorry, theres more... Windows7 Sync is much better than XP's.
a script would work and not to hard to create. Problem is A you check for changes (script gets harder) or B you whipe out data and replace (They might not have saved the correct copy on sewrver and only on desktop, and speed. copying every file again.. Shameful)
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Roaming profiles can cause issues and offline files doesn't work consistently enough (at least in Windows XP). I think roaming profiles is your best solution right now.
If I'm allowed to stand on my soap box: Users have to be willing to work with you for a common goal. To say that they shouldn't have to do anything to ensure their files are backed up, but not be willing to do something as simple as wait until their laptops are powered off before undocking is just stupid. Their has to be a collaborative effort between IT and the end user. Packets don't fly through the air and until we implement the Star Trek feature to our servers and beam the data directly from their hard drive to the server, users MUST have some interaction with the process. It sounds as if you've implemented the simplest solution. Simply shutting down their laptops before they leave ensures they save their work. However, this doesn't speak to the changes they make out of the office which wouldn't be backed up until they logged onto the network back in the office.
If I'm allowed to stand on my soap box: Users have to be willing to work with you for a common goal. To say that they shouldn't have to do anything to ensure their files are backed up, but not be willing to do something as simple as wait until their laptops are powered off before undocking is just stupid. Their has to be a collaborative effort between IT and the end user. Packets don't fly through the air and until we implement the Star Trek feature to our servers and beam the data directly from their hard drive to the server, users MUST have some interaction with the process. It sounds as if you've implemented the simplest solution. Simply shutting down their laptops before they leave ensures they save their work. However, this doesn't speak to the changes they make out of the office which wouldn't be backed up until they logged onto the network back in the office.