Common User Profiles in Labs

[tech24266]

I've seen this subject several times but no one seems to have a good
answer. In my setup we have multiple labs of computers that students
and teachers log in to with unique usernames. I need all the users to
see and use the same user profile in each lab. Each lab will have its
own user profile but users will log into multiple labs and needs the
correct profile for that lab. I've been using the method of copying
over the default profile with the profile I want; however, this has
proved problematic. Having all user use the same login account will not
work since each user must use a unique home directory. Roaming profiles
will not work either because each lab has different hardware and
software setups. Additionally we use a program called deep freeze that
cause any changes to the computer to be lost on reboot. I've run out
of ideas and would appreciate any input.

 

[Guest]

This might be suitable:

http://mylogon.net

(Was originally used in a "telephone alley" environment where users needed
to logon to any available machine and do what that machine was set-up to do,
but nevertheless have whatever network-access they were permitted, and no
more. As it seemed likely to have a wider application I made a site for it.)

 

[Adam Leinss]

Each lab will have its own user profile but users will log into
multiple labs and needs the correct profile for that lab.

Why would labs have different profiles? What are you changing in the
profile lab to lab?

In any case, if you have a default user profile for each lab, every
user that logs in will get a profile created based on the default user
profile.

Why would want keep profiles laying around? Once a semester ends you
don't want the profiles hangning out there do you? I never used deep
freeze, but you should be able to set it up so it ignores "C:\documents
and settings".

Adam

 

[Guest]

Perhaps I should leave it up-to the original poster to answer, but he did say
he had tried default profiles and found them problematic.

I would concur on that. Default profiles are widely touted as the answer to
everything, but in fact they have a very limited application, mostly to new
rollouts. For one thing they do not apply to existing users, so there is no
point in expecting a default profile to supply new or updated settings to
existing users.. because it won't.

A mandatory profile might be a useful way of 'resetting' the machine each
reboot, but then there would still be a need to allow any user to logon with
the same profile.