Changing computers on SBS Essentials 2011 - Keeping desktop settings, etc.

Roaming profiles is a reasonably easy way to do this, I would turn it off again afterwards though.

Bear in mind that not everything is migrated in a roaming profile on Windows 7; particularly IE settings, cookies and temporary files.

Also be aware that shortcuts to programs installed on computer A but not B will still exist but fail to run. Some shortcuts on computer A might be in the all users folders and not be copied over either.

If both PCs are identical you should have very few issues. It's also quite easy to test.

Do check the size of the "roaming" folders in c:\users\[username] on computer A:
Appdata\Roaming
Desktop
Downloads
Favourites
My Documents (etc)
as these will all be replicated and it doesn't take many iTunes backups on a PC for example to fill a server hard drive when the profile roams.

Hi,

Computers will be substantially different in terms of components, but will have the sam OS - Win 7 Pro x64.

So would it be less complicated just to copy the desktop files from one computer to the other, then fix some of the shortcuts, etc.?

Copying like that is easy but will not copy the desktop image etc.

Roaming profiles are designed to work on different hardware and if the software setup is different you will have to fix the shortcuts anyway. I would still go with roaming profiles.

Hi,

I believe redirected folders is what I'm looking for. Thank you one and all.

Is there a book or resource that is considered "best" when doing SBS admin?

The following references redirected folders in SBS 2008, 2011 is the same.
http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2010/10/08/folder-redirection-in-small-business-server-2008.aspx

This is a great site for SBS setup and tweaking:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/1709.sbs-2011-standard-build-info.aspx

My preferred training is Train Signal DVD's:
http://www.trainsignal.com/Small-Business-Server-2011-Training.aspx

And, this is a great administrator guide for SBS 2011:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2011/06/10/new-book-windows-small-business-server-2011-administrator-s-companion.aspx

Thank you much.

It appears that SBS 2011 Essentials doesn't have Folder Redirection natively built in. You need to download and install a Pro Pack:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=27122

Is this correct? Or am I not looking in the right places?

This is the solution we were looking for.

Sorry, I didn't realize you need to add the pro pack, it seems so. SBS2003/2008/2011 standard, and Server 2012 Essentials all have it built into the console, but not so for SBS 2011 Essentials.

I'm curious - does this add-in work for Windows Home Server 2011 as well?

Home server is not a domain controller so it will not support redirected folders

@ btassure - I poked around Roaming Profiles, and it provides some neat features that we will find useful as well. Thank you.

Still learning the intricacies of folder redirection. With redirection turned on:

- PC 1 has Office 2007 installed locally.
- PC 2 has Office 2010 installed locally.

In many cases, a user can be simultaneously logged into multiple computers. Problem is, when a user logs into PC1 after being logged onto PC2, it puts all the shortcut icons from the PC2 desktop onto the PC1 desktop. Since PC1 doesn't have Office 2010 installed, these shortcuts lead nowhere.

Also, where exactly on the server are the folders "redirected" to?

>>"when a user logs into PC1 after being logged onto PC2, it puts all the shortcut icons from the PC2 desktop onto the PC1 desktop"
Correct, which is why it is best to have programs only in the start menu or taskbar.  Roaming profiles (instead of Redirected Folders) will also sync the start menu making it more confusing.

Good news is you have it working  :-)

>>"Also, where exactly on the server are the folders "redirected" to? "
With SBS, the default is \\ServerName\RedirectedFolders\UserName.
You will not have access to these files, only the owner of the file does.  It will even show 0 MB under properties.  This is to allow privacy to end users.
In the event you want to see the size and names of files, I have outlined how to do so in the start of the following blog article:
http://blog.lan-tech.ca/2011/11/03/missing-sbs-20082011-drive-space/

Ok, makes sense. Thank you.

Is it possible to turn on folder redirection for individual computers? Just from poking around, it appears it's an "all or nothing" proposition?

You can control by user (under properties of that user in the SBS console), but not by computer.  It is a user Group Policy, not a Computer policy.

Having said that, don't let anyone ever tell you, you can't do something  :-)
It is possible if you want to get very familiar with group policy to use "loopback processing" of policies to apply them to a user when on some computers, but not on others.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/231287

I think I tried that, but didn't see the options under "Users". I could be wrong though.

Maybe it's because this is an SBS Essentials Add-In (and not natively built in)?

Sorry I did it again, assuming SBS 2011 standard.  I don't have an SBS 2011 Essentials I can check, but you cannot on 2012 Essentials, so I assume the same on 2011.  It is still a group policy so it can be edited and modified, but I would avoid that unless you are quite familiar with group Policy.
The policy should be  located under administrative tools | group Policy | domains | <your domain>.local | SBS Group Policy Folder Redirection