Roaming Profiles on Server too large - Redirection of My Documents not working ?!?
OK - Windows Server 2012 running as a DOMAIN CONTROLLER and using the share "USERProfile$" to store user profiles (ie: roaming profiles). In addition, I have configured via a GPO that "Documents" and "Desktop" will be redirected to the server and stored on a different drive shared as "Users$".
Problem: I am down to less than 10% disk space on the drive where user profiles are stored. Also, there is some "doubt" as to whether "Documents" and "Desktop" are getting stored under "Users$"... Concern is that they are going to "USERProfile$" perhaps!?!?
Since I am not on site, I am trying to remotely figure out what is going on by looking only at the server. However, even though I am logged in as the administrator, I am unable to get the size of each of the users' profiles so that I can see if it is just 1 user that has some crazy issue.
So, here is what I am looking for help with...
1) If the user profile is set (under Domain Users and Computers) to store the profile on the server (under USERProfiles$), AND, the appropriate GPO has folder redirection sending "Documents" and "Desktop" to the server (under Users$): will the user profile somehow be keeping a copy of the user's desktop and documents !?!?
2) How can I (from the server) get a handle on the size of each users' profile? Unfortunately, the current settings are such that only the specific user has access. I just need to see the sizes - not the content - to point me in the right direction :)
Problem: I am down to less than 10% disk space on the drive where user profiles are stored. Also, there is some "doubt" as to whether "Documents" and "Desktop" are getting stored under "Users$"... Concern is that they are going to "USERProfile$" perhaps!?!?
Since I am not on site, I am trying to remotely figure out what is going on by looking only at the server. However, even though I am logged in as the administrator, I am unable to get the size of each of the users' profiles so that I can see if it is just 1 user that has some crazy issue.
So, here is what I am looking for help with...
1) If the user profile is set (under Domain Users and Computers) to store the profile on the server (under USERProfiles$), AND, the appropriate GPO has folder redirection sending "Documents" and "Desktop" to the server (under Users$): will the user profile somehow be keeping a copy of the user's desktop and documents !?!?
2) How can I (from the server) get a handle on the size of each users' profile? Unfortunately, the current settings are such that only the specific user has access. I just need to see the sizes - not the content - to point me in the right direction :)
ASKER
Foxluv: Yes - The profile tab shows that the profile is directed to: \\servername\userprofile$
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Foxluv: Windirstat can see the various profiles but cannot tell me anything about the size of the profiles !!! So, no further ahead :(
ASKER
Since the profile directory is on its own drive (D:\UserProfile), I was able to right-click on drive D:, go to properties, select the Quota tab, and Enable Quota Management.
I set the quota to 10MB (soft limit - ie, no limiting of disk usage) with a warning at 6MB.
After applying these settings, and waiting a few minutes,, I clicked on the "Quota Entries" button (on this same screen). It showed me by user how much each person was using !!!
Yea !!! The top users were using: 150GB, 137GB, 84GB, 64GB, .... and so on.
So, my next step is to get onsite (or have the local person do this) and see what exactly they are doing that takes all this space in their profile. Note: this is just the user profile we are talking about - the documents and desktop redirection are to a different drive entirely.
I set the quota to 10MB (soft limit - ie, no limiting of disk usage) with a warning at 6MB.
After applying these settings, and waiting a few minutes,, I clicked on the "Quota Entries" button (on this same screen). It showed me by user how much each person was using !!!
Yea !!! The top users were using: 150GB, 137GB, 84GB, 64GB, .... and so on.
So, my next step is to get onsite (or have the local person do this) and see what exactly they are doing that takes all this space in their profile. Note: this is just the user profile we are talking about - the documents and desktop redirection are to a different drive entirely.
ASKER
I am onsite and have been working the problem from the desktop of a user that shows he is using 64GB for his profile and 300+GB for his My Documents and Desktop combined.
The puzzle is: I still cannot see any reason for his profile to be this large (although it is confirmed under System that this is the size.
As far as his Desktop and My Documents, I see maybe 10GB of files - nowhere near the 300+GB that is being used.
What am I missing ?
The puzzle is: I still cannot see any reason for his profile to be this large (although it is confirmed under System that this is the size.
As far as his Desktop and My Documents, I see maybe 10GB of files - nowhere near the 300+GB that is being used.
What am I missing ?
ASKER
Apparent Solution: Profiles were excessively large because of DROPBOX folder. Windirstat gave the insight needed to zero in on this folder. So, the plan is to move the DROPBOX folder to another location on the local C: drive - thus removing it from their profile.
Secondly, by mapping a drive letter to the location where the user's Desktop and Documents are stored on the server, we could then run Windirstat against this drive letter and see that (for this user anyway) there was a huge Recycle Bin that needed to be cleared out. That was done and reduce the size greatly of this folder.
Lastly, in case it is not clear, the GPO redirecting both profiles and documents/desktop was working fine. So, it was just a matter of finding why too much disk space was getting used up.
Thanks Foxluv for your help - and pointing me to windirstat!!!
Secondly, by mapping a drive letter to the location where the user's Desktop and Documents are stored on the server, we could then run Windirstat against this drive letter and see that (for this user anyway) there was a huge Recycle Bin that needed to be cleared out. That was done and reduce the size greatly of this folder.
Lastly, in case it is not clear, the GPO redirecting both profiles and documents/desktop was working fine. So, it was just a matter of finding why too much disk space was getting used up.
Thanks Foxluv for your help - and pointing me to windirstat!!!
ASKER
GPO was working fine - but Foxluv pointed me to WINDIRSTAT which helped isolate the problem with profiles (and other directories) growing too large.
Good fix buddy...I'm glad you were able to home in on the issues with my help and your troubleshooting. NICE!!
Are you checking the actual server where the user profile is being stored for the roaming profiles? IN AD right-click any user that you know uses a roaming profile>properties>click the PROFILE tab then view where there profile is sitting in profile path