Using GPO to copy a folder with multiple files from local file server

is this a one time copy, or every time they log on?

One time copy

so you want all computers in the domain to get a copy from one server at one location?

You can probably use robocopy, and a batch file.

How many computers are you talking about?
Are they on most all of the time?

No, I actually have I have 5 locations and one server at each location. I want to know if its possible for all the computers to get the folder from whatever the local server is. Total number of computers are 350.

it's possible.

have you used robocopy before?

Yes I have but how would I use it in this situation?

Ok but what about all the other locations? how does robocopy know the name of the local server for each location?

you would enter the server name and save that file... then apply it to the computers in the location according to

basically you'd end up with 5 batch files almost identical, except the servernames, or foldernames (if different)

I'm assuming you have locations organized by OU in Active Directory?

then just apply that to the proper OU in a start up script setting.

Ya sorry I forgot to mention that we do not have the locations organized by OU. All the users are located under Users and All the computers are still in the Computers OU.

Is that something you could do?  

Might be a project worth taking on.


If not, you can send the files using robocopy to the computers by way of list....but again, the computer would have to be connected and running.

I'm sure there is a way to code this and have the script compare an attribute for the location somewhere and then act accordingly, but it would take me a while to get that written.

There are other chaps here that could whip it out a lot quicker than me.

Getting the computers in OU's by location could be beneficial in the future, as well as helping accomplish this task.

It's quite easy....

I know it is and it is on my official to do list, but for now I need to know how to copy a folder with files through GPO objects. I gotta get this done by tomorrow.

oh...quickly..

here's a link for reference... either now or later for the GPO part.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc775970(v=ws.10)

next...
do you have the locations (servers or clients) separated or classified in any way that they can be distinguishable from one another?

if you can export the computer names into text files, and arrange them by location you can send the files out in this fashion...

see attached file.
EEcopy-files-to-computers.txt

you would need computer1.txt  to list all the computers that need to access the server in location 1.

then a list of computers for location 2,  etc.

natually you will need to modify the names of the servers, locations and folders in the script but that's easy enough.
then save and rename to a .bat extension and you can run it.

It works well, just takes that initial separation of putting the computers in lists. You can export all workstations into excel or a text file from active directory, and seperate then into the proper lists per server.

you won't have to do anything in group policy with this method.... but the computers will have to be powered on and connected so they can receive the files when you execute.

It will create a log file with the successful computers on it, so you can review any failures and re-attempt if needed.

sorry.. here is a better version for you.
EEcopy-files-to-computers.txt

How do you define a local server?

Do you have a naming system like NYCFS001, NYCWKSTN001, SFODC0001 etc?

Reason for accepting multiple comments is because I took two ideas from the expert and creating my own fix.