GP & Folder Redirection

[Guest]

Background Info:
- ~150 computers
- mixture of WinXP and 2000 Pro
- running on Win2000 server
- high school/education setting
- 10/100-baseT network

In recently taking over the school's network, I have learned that a change
was made to the structure of our network. We are now using roaming profiles,
where we only used the server for name/password purposes.

Problem:
Several of the teachers and a few students are experiencing long login and
logout times while loading and saving personal settings. I have tracked the
problem to the 'feature' of Folder Redirection.

For those users who don't have much in their Documents and Settings folders,
logging in and out isn't a problem. However, students who are working on
graphics, video, and music projects are having a tough time. Also teachers
who store photos (yearbook, graphics, etc.) or other such large files, or
large amount of files are basically compelled to never log out once they have
logged in. Not too good for security purposes.

I need to know how to alter or remove this feature (Group Policy?) and what
negative effects it might have to my network (deleting users files from their
local machine and the server?).

Our purpose in moving to this route was to allow students (and teachers to a
degree) a place on the server to store their files without having to log on
to the same computer, or lab, every day. No one (previous network admin. or
others who assist with the network) knew about the Folder Redirection feature.

Any help would be appreciated!


PS - I am new to Windows networking (one month into it, no training). Please
do not assume that I know the lingo, shortcuts, or where everything is
located. On top of everything else, I have found out that I have very few
original copies of software, no manuals, and outdated 3rd party books for
assistance.

 

[Guest]

Anyone?

 

[Guest]

Hi Magnus

My answer would be rather long winded for this group. I work in education,
like you, and we have a pretty good solution for most school networks. If
you're interested let me know

Paul

 

[Guest]

Hi Paul,

I would be very interested in hearing your solution!

Magnus

 

[Guest]

Does anyone have any advice that I can use to resolve this problem?

Thank you!

Magnus

 

[Guest]

Hi Magnus

Apologies for the delay. My solution in a school would be to set up
mandatory profiles for each year group. If properly built they will redirect
pupils to the server for saving their work and will help to manage the
desktop environment of the pupils. Another advantage is that you can have
them automatically deleted from the workstations when the pupil logs off.
Start menu and desktop are easy to control. A small profile is copied to the
workstation at logon, there is no need for any synchronisation, no waiting
for shortcuts to appear each time you go to the start menu (common if the
start menu is redirected to the server), etc. etc. We think that all the pros
outweigh the cons, they just need setting up carefully.

If you would like further help let me know and we can continue the
conversation off-group.

BTW, where in the world are you?

PaulM

 

[Guest]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for getting back to me. We currently only have the a simple profile
path setup in Active Directory, to the student's folder on the server. Beyond
what was previously done in this manner, nothing else has been setup.
Honestly I wouldnn't know where to begin. As I mentioned in my first post, I
have zero documentation and enough experience to know what you're talking
about, but not how to do it.

If you know of any documentation (books, websites, etc.) that can explain
this stuff in plain English, I would appreciate it.

Magnus

 

[Guest]

Hi Magnus

Sorry for the delay - email me at paulm at datacable.co.uk and we can
continue this discussion off the discussion group.

Paul

 

[Guest]

Hi Paul,

I think this discussion would be beneficial for the community to view. If
you have anything I could use, please post to this forum.

Thanks for your willingness to help!

Magnus