Working Offline From a Domain

JamboUK · 26-08-2006, 18:26

Hi,

Wondering if you Network savvy people can help.

I have a laptop which I work with on a Company domain. It is set to sync to the server when I log off (My Documents, desktop settings etc). Everything works great.

I also use this laptop away from the network domain. I log on and get several errors about the profile not being available (because the server is obviously missing) and running a local one - which is fine. I also get nagged when logging off because the profile cannot be sync'd.

Is there anyway of eliminating this? Not a major hassle I know... but would be neater for laptop users (and the Company has many who work this way).

In addition is there a quick way to carry across all my settings and files which were on my local profile when I was on workgroup network to the profile that has been created on my laptop when a domain was joined?

Thanks.

MovedGoalPosts · 26-08-2006, 18:51

Try the file and settings transfer wizard to copy your profile (windows menu > accessories > System tools)

As for the networking profile, someone has set you up with a roaming profile on the server. That's silly for lappy users. Ask the IT admin to delete that.

JamboUK · 26-08-2006, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob C

Try the file and settings transfer wizard to copy your profile (windows menu > accessories > System tools)

As for the networking profile, someone has set you up with a roaming profile on the server. That's silly for lappy users. Ask the IT admin to delete that.

OK.. thanks for the roaming bit......if it switched off does My Documents etc no longer sync? Surely this is useful in the event of lost laptops etc?

OK... files and settings transfer... tried that.... saved it to hard drive... log on into new domain profile install saved setting (and Outlook e-mail) looks like it goes on... reboot.... desktop icons disappeared!

Roaming profile the problem again?

MovedGoalPosts · 26-08-2006, 19:38

While roaming profile stuff is going on you will have problems, as that wants to reset to whatever the server / domain user policy settings dictate.

As for My documents, that can be set to synchronise to the server on log on /off, similar to other files.

JamboUK · 26-08-2006, 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob C

While roaming profile stuff is going on you will have problems, as that wants to reset to whatever the server / domain user policy settings dictate.

Ahhhhh....thanks a lot.

As for My documents, that can be set to synchronise to the server on log on /off, similar to other files.

Ahhh.. ok.. was confusing the the two.. I was assuming roaming and sync was the same thing? Surely... if it is set to sync... you will get an error if you are off line and away from the network at sync time?

greencreeper · 26-08-2006, 23:31

Perhaps remove the roaming profile, so your profile is local to the PC, and setup folder redirection on My Documents (can be done from a Domain Controller), with offline folders/files enabled so that syncing takes place between the server and PC copies of My Documents. This is (I think) what Rob is suggesting.

I hate roaming profiles. They either work or they go really, really badly wrong.

MovedGoalPosts · 27-08-2006, 00:18

In Windows controlled networks, with Win 2K Proor Win XP Pro PCs and Win 2000 /2003 server environments Synchronised files and roaming profiles are two different things.

Roaming profiles are generally controlled by the server set policies. Essentially each user has a folder somewhere on the server, that contains almost a complet copy of everything in the user's workstation (or laptop) documents and setting's folder. When you log on / log off the server tries to send the latest, or receive the latest version of that folder. From an IT admin point of view that's bad news. If someone has a large My documents,, or other folders the whole thing might have to be uploaded / downloaded each log on / off.

Synchronised files are generally controlled by the computer. At the specified times, usually log on / off the worksation will try to update the latest copy of the file either from that residing on a network based computer, or on the local computer. Again, if you have a lot of files, this isn't very good due to the time needed to check and transfer numeroud files.

In these days of modern networked environments. Remote workers should be encouraged to use VPN, or even log into their companies own intranet systems to shift just the data they need.

greencreeper · 27-08-2006, 01:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob C

Synchronised files are generally controlled by the computer

You can use a GPO to set folder redirection, as needed.

O/T - I had to quote the post manually because the QUOTE button just gives random numbers instead of the post text...

JamboUK · 27-08-2006, 09:28

"In these days of modern networked environments. Remote workers should be encouraged to use VPN, or even log into their companies own intranet systems to shift just the data they need."

The users in question would be laptop users who would be in the office a couple times a week (and therefore connected the network). Also working from home and connecting via VPN. Also making connection elsewhere when required... i.e. hotels.. customer offices....etc.

What would you suggest for these users? Thanks for the help so far!