Folder Redirection and Offline File Settings

It lets you redirect folders for users so that all of their data is protected by being located on a server instead of on a PC. Up to ten folders can be redirected on WS08 and Windows Vista (see Table-4).

Rely on these recommended settings to prepare your folder redirection GPO. Folder redirection settings are found in the User Configuration | Policies | Windows Settings | Folder Redirection node of a Group Policy.

Enable Folder Redirection

There are special considerations when enabling folder redirection. First, you need to ensure that each user is redirected to the appropriate server. It wouldn't do to have a user in New York redirected to a server in Los Angeles. You must create special administrative groups that can be used to regroup users and ensure that each user is assigned to the appropriate server. You must also ensure that offline settings are appropriately configured to guarantee that users are working with the latest version of their offline files.

Redirecting folders through user groupings is, in fact, similar to creating regional, or rather, geographically based user groups. Since each server is, in fact, a physical location, you will need to create a user group for each server. Remember to create global groups to contain the users and assign the permissions. Begin by enumerating the location of each file server that will host user folders, then name each global and domain local group accordingly. Once the groups are created, you can begin the redirection process. Using groups allows you to limit the number of GPOs required for the People OU structure.

1. In your Global People GPO, move to User Configuration | Policies | Windows Settings | Folder Redirection.
2. Right-click the folder you want to redirect, and select Properties.
3. Under the Target tab, select Advanced - Specify Different Locations For Various User Groups, and then click Add.
4. In the Specify Group and Location dialog box, type the group (using the down-level group name; i.e., domain\groupname) or click Browse to find the appropriate group.
5. Under Target Folder Location, select Create A Folder For Each User Under The Root Path.
6. Under Root Path, type the UNC path to the share name or click Browse to locate it.
7. Click OK to return to the Properties dialog box. Repeat for each group and server location you need to enter. Move to the Settings tab.
8. Under Policy Removal, select Return The Folder Back To The Local User Profile Location When Policy Is Removed. This will ensure that redirected folders return to original locations if, for some reason, the policy is removed.
9. You can also control how the settings will be applied. Note that the first two settings are selected by default. If you have down-level clients, then also select the Also Apply Redirection Policy setting. Click OK when done.
10. Perform the same operation for each of the other folders, and set them according to the recommendations of Table-4. Note that for the Documents folder, you have additional options and can set Pictures, Videos, and Music folders to automatically inherit the Documents settings.

Your folder redirection policy is set. Your file servers are ready to host user data.