Folder Redirection and Roaming Profiles seemingly 'leaving files'

[sandomaphone]

Hi guys!

After fixing (i think) an issue with folder redirection and roaming
profiles canceling each other out, I now have another issue.

I'll describe it like so:

* User logs on
* Creates "test.txt" in their redirected 'My Documents' folder
(redirected to \\iServer\users$\User\My Documents)
* Clarifys that it is ONLY present on the remote server (checks local
profile - C:\Documents and Settings\User\ - My Documents folder doesn't
exist)
* Logs off
* Logs back on, and the file, "test.txt" is sitting in the local
profile AS WELL AS the remote profile

I don't want this. I want both Application Data and My Documents
redirected (and NOT ROAMING) to
\\iServer\users$\%username%\%foldername% and the rest to stay roaming
(desktop and startmenu). I want it so that when a user creates a file
in a redirected folder, stays in just that, the redirected folder - i
don't want it, at any stage to propergate to the local profile,
seemingly via a sneeky roaming profile doing something naughty.

Any ideas? This is really starting to bug me.
__________________

 

[Florian Frommherz]

Howdy!

* User logs on
* Creates "test.txt" in their redirected 'My Documents' folder
(redirected to \\iServer\users$\User\My Documents)
* Clarifys that it is ONLY present on the remote server (checks local
profile - C:\Documents and Settings\User\ - My Documents folder doesn't
exist)
* Logs off
* Logs back on, and the file, "test.txt" is sitting in the local
profile AS WELL AS the remote profile
[...]
in a redirected folder, stays in just that, the redirected folder - i
don't want it, at any stage to propergate to the local profile,
seemingly via a sneeky roaming profile doing something naughty.

When using Roaming Profiles, there will always be a local copy of the
roamed folders - this is by design. As far as I know, there is no way to
prevent the computers from downloading the profile and copy it locally.
But there is a Computer Configuration policy you could enable - this
lets the computers delete the local copy of the roaming profile when the
user logs off:

CompConf\AdmTemp\System\User Profiles\ - "Delete cached copies of
roaming profiles".

But please read the "Explain" section, it contains a warning:
"Important: Do not enable this setting if you are using the slow link
detection feature of Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP
Professional. To respond to a slow link, the system requires a local
copy of the user's roaming profile."

cheers,

Florian

 

[sandomaphone]

Yep, that's all well and good - I understand that Roaming Profiles, by
design, copy a copy of the roaming profile to the local computer for
offline files reasons and otherwise.

My problem is not directly with Roaming Profiles - I have 2 folders
redirected that therefore aren't even in the roaming profile anymore,
because they're redirected. And yet, they still get copied to the
local computer.

What I think SHOULD be happening is that when a folder is redirected,
it should stay that way, and not propogate to other forms, like part of
a local profile, for instance (that's what's happening here). The
redirected folder's data should STAY on that network server, and NEVER
leave it. And yet, that is exactly what is happening here.

I want a combination of the two (Roaming Profiles and Folder
Redirection) because I want the Desktop and Start Menu to Roam, and My
Documents and Application Data to be redirected. At the Moment, it
seems as though the whole profile is allowed to roam, but My Documents
and Application Data are redirected as well.

P.S. While typing this message, a strike of brilliance came across me
(mind the modesty ). The two redirected folders (Application Data
and My Documents) are in the same share as the two roaming folders
(Start Menu and Desktop) As in:

\Internal\Users\Matthew\ - Windows User Profile
\Internal\Users\Matthew\Start Menu - Start Menu Folder (Roaming)
\Internal\Users\Matthew\Desktop - Desktop Folder (Roaming)
\Internal\Users\Matthew\My Documents - My Documents Folder (Redirected)
\Internal\Users\Matthew\Application Data - Application Data Folder
(Redirected)

Would this cause a problem - because as you said, by design, Roaming
Profiles cannot refrain from copying the whole profile at first login,
to the client computer (without exluding directories in Group Policy I
imagine though - and don't ask, I've already tried that too....didn't
work ) If those two redirected folders wern't being redirected,
then logically, they'd roam - so could this be the problem? If so, I
guess I can just shift the folders around a bit....and implement an add
users login script or something for new users....while keeping the
permissions in order, of course.

Any Ideas?

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In sandomaphone <[email protected]> typed:

P.S. While typing this message, a strike of brilliance came across me
(mind the modesty ). The two redirected folders (Application Data
and My Documents) are in the same share as the two roaming folders
(Start Menu and Desktop) As in:

\Internal\Users\Matthew\ - Windows User Profile
\Internal\Users\Matthew\Start Menu - Start Menu Folder (Roaming)
\Internal\Users\Matthew\Desktop - Desktop Folder (Roaming)
\Internal\Users\Matthew\My Documents - My Documents Folder
(Redirected) \Internal\Users\Matthew\Application Data - Application
Data Folder (Redirected)

Would this cause a problem - because as you said, by design, Roaming
Profiles cannot refrain from copying the whole profile at first login,
to the client computer (without exluding directories in Group Policy I
imagine though - and don't ask, I've already tried that too....didn't
work ) If those two redirected folders wern't being redirected,
then logically, they'd roam - so could this be the problem? If so, I
guess I can just shift the folders around a bit....and implement an
add users login script or something for new users....while keeping the
permissions in order, of course.

Any Ideas?

I think you've hit the nail on the head. Don't use the USERS folders for
your roaming profiles....just for your folder redirection. I set up a share
called PROFILES% on the server and each user's roaming profile path is
\\server\profiles\%username%. This is independent of their home directory,
which I use for folder redirection.

 

[Jimmy A]

Hello,
Have you tried using Desktop Authority to do your Folder Redirection?
Very simple setup and is managed from a central location so it can be
rolled out in phases if need be.
All the best,
JA

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In sandomaphone <[email protected]> typed:

P.S. While typing this message, a strike of brilliance came across me
(mind the modesty ). The two redirected folders (Application Data
and My Documents) are in the same share as the two roaming folders
(Start Menu and Desktop) As in:

\Internal\Users\Matthew\ - Windows User Profile
\Internal\Users\Matthew\Start Menu - Start Menu Folder (Roaming)
\Internal\Users\Matthew\Desktop - Desktop Folder (Roaming)
\Internal\Users\Matthew\My Documents - My Documents Folder
(Redirected) \Internal\Users\Matthew\Application Data - Application
Data Folder (Redirected)

Would this cause a problem - because as you said, by design, Roaming
Profiles cannot refrain from copying the whole profile at first login,
to the client computer (without exluding directories in Group Policy I
imagine though - and don't ask, I've already tried that too....didn't
work ) If those two redirected folders wern't being redirected,
then logically, they'd roam - so could this be the problem? If so, I
guess I can just shift the folders around a bit....and implement an
add users login script or something for new users....while keeping the
permissions in order, of course.

Any Ideas?

This thread looks mighty familiar - perhaps this is just deja vu, but I
thought I replied in another group?

Anyway - yes, I think you hit the nail on the head with your stroke of
brilliance.

Don't mix up your roaming profile share path, and your users' data share
paths. Never the twain shall meet. \\server\profiles$\%username% for the
profile, and \\server\users\%username% for the home directory/redirection
location.