A question about Offline Files and Folders

[Paul Hansson]

Hello one and all,

We have many computers within our organisation which are accessed by users
who have Offline Files and Folders configured via Group Policy. Those same
computers are also accessed by users who do not have any Offline Folders
configured.

We have found that no matter who the user is, and if they have Offline Files
configured or otherwise, when ever the user logs in or out, the computer
synchronises the cache for all users.

It was my understanding of this feature, that the cache would only be
synchronised for the user who was logging in/out, and so if that user does
not have Offline Folders, then no synchronisation would take place.

Is my understanding correct?

Assuming that it is, how do I resolve this problem. For example, we use a
guest account for access in our conference room. When a client comes in, and
asks to use the Internet, they have to sit through a long period of time
while the system logs on because the Offline Folder cache is synchronising,
even though the guest account has no Offline Folders configured.

Has any body come up against this problem and found a solution,

My thanks in advance for any help,

Paul

 

[Holz]

Hello one and all,

We have many computers within our organisation which are accessed by
users who have Offline Files and Folders configured via Group Policy.
Those same computers are also accessed by users who do not have any
Offline Folders configured.

We have found that no matter who the user is, and if they have Offline
Files configured or otherwise, when ever the user logs in or out, the
computer synchronises the cache for all users.

It was my understanding of this feature, that the cache would only be
synchronised for the user who was logging in/out, and so if that user
does not have Offline Folders, then no synchronisation would take
place.

Is my understanding correct?

Assuming that it is, how do I resolve this problem. For example, we
use a guest account for access in our conference room. When a client
comes in, and asks to use the Internet, they have to sit through a
long period of time while the system logs on because the Offline
Folder cache is synchronising, even though the guest account has no
Offline Folders configured.

Has any body come up against this problem and found a solution,

My thanks in advance for any help,

Paul

If the group policy is per computer, then the computer will sync
regardless to the user.
If the policy is per user, then it is per user.
How to check? from the run box, run rsop.msc, and check which policies
are in effect.

 

[Paul Hansson]

Hi Holz,

For the guest account, there is no configuration of Offline Files in the
User Policy, but when the guest account logs onto a computer where other
users who do have Offline Folders configured in their User Policy have logged
on, the synchronisation is triggered.

It's very strange. I can build a clean machine. Put it into my domain, do
not assign it any group policy, and log on as a user who has Offline Files
configured in their User Policy. From that point on, no matter who logs on to
that machine, Synchronisation is triggered. We have tried clearing the cache
and deleting the roaming user profiles. Nothing seems to make a difference.

We are at a loss to find what causes this,

Thanks for your reply

Paul

 

[joelcipriano]

I too am having this dilemma. I want only select users to syncronize
offline files with their computers. Any help? Ny other users need to
be out of the policy.

The only policy to turn on Offline files is a computer policy...so any
user logging on will use the offline cache. Some articles I have read
mention using Loopback / Merge Mode. I am having a difficult time
understanding how to use it.