Group Policy

[Don]

Is it possible to apply the Group Policy settings on one
computer in a peer to peer networking environment onto
other computers? For example, I have one workstation
that we use as our "server" which houses all our shared
files. It would be nice to modify GPO settings on this
one computer and have the other machines automatically
refresh from it. Just as it would work in a domain
network environment. All computers are running Windows
XP.

Thanks,
Don

 

[allan grossman [mvp]]

Hi, Don -

I'm afraid it isn't possible - you need a server to
inflict policies on member workstations ;-)

Sorry I didn't have better news -

 

[Don]

That's what I was afraid of. How about either of these 2
options.

1) The ability to copy the settings manually from one
machine to the other. For example are they simply stored
in a file that can easily be copied to another computer.
Or does it only update the registry?

2) If option 1 is not feasible, which I presume is the
case, how about the ability to obtain a printout of all
the GPO settings to easily compare them from one computer
to the other.

Thanks,
Don

 

[allan grossman [mvp]]

Hi, Don -

First I'd like to offer the standard disclaimer about not
editing the registry without knowing what you're doing
because you can really mess up a machine if your sense of
adventure exceeds technical skill ;-)

It is possible to create an administrative template and
apply it to individual workstations or to import the
registry keys themselves. The template method is a whole
bunch safer than importing the registry keys, though.

If you open the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) and
browse the help file there you'll learn how to create an
administrative template and how to inflict it on
unsuspecting workstations -

The default administrative template is in a file called
system.adm and can be found in your %windir%\inf
directory. This link should give you just about
everything you need -

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/x
p/all/proddocs/en-us/gpe_shippedadms.mspx

Good luck!