Roaming Profiles vs. Folder Redirection ...

[Dave]

Greetings,

I have an installation of Win2k3 Server and four WinXP-Pro clients I am
using as sort of an on-going learning project. My server has the active
desktop, DNS, DHCP, file server, print server roles activated.

I have a question regarding the benefits/risks associated with Roaming
Profiles and Folder Redirection. I currently have Folder Redirection
(application data and my documents) working fine. My reservations about
using Roaming Profiles stems from the fact that all of my clients have
different software loads and system hardware profiles. The kids are using a
pair of PIII 450MHz class machines and the wife and I fight over a P4 2.8GHz
and a P4 1.8GHz laptop. Will the roaming profiles be a problem with the
dramatically different Hardware Profiles? What additional benefits will
roaming profiles bring to the table to offset the higher administration
headaches? Are there any other obscure pitfalls I should be aware of?

On another topic, I am looking for an online source for admin scripts for
Win2k3 Server (shutdown startup, etc.) that are well documented and ripe for
tweaking to meet my current and future needs. Does anyone know of such an
archive?

Any help, ideas, comments would be greatly appreciated to advance my
understanding of Windows Server 2003 and WinXP networking.

Thanks Again,
Dave

 

[Leon E. Webster, MCSE]

The only hardware that has ever given me trouble is the monitor. As long as
all the monitors/display adapters can use the same resolution you should be
fine. I blew a monitor and hooked up an old Samsung and didn't think that
it couldn't take the 1024X768 set in my profile. You can guess the results
I got! Roaming profiles will enable you to get the same familiar desktop
even if you have to use the kid's machine. Along with the folder
redirection it makes a "use any pc" setup a dream. Be sure to install the
same set of apps on all the machines too.

Lee