A question about Offline Files and Folders

[Guest Paul Hansson]

Hello one and all,

 

We have many computers within our organisation which are accessed by users

who have Offline Files and Folders configured via Group Policy. Those same

computers are also accessed by users who do not have any Offline Folders

configured.

 

We have found that no matter who the user is, and if they have Offline Files

configured or otherwise, when ever the user logs in or out, the computer

synchronises the cache for all users.

 

It was my understanding of this feature, that the cache would only be

synchronised for the user who was logging in/out, and so if that user does

not have Offline Folders, then no synchronisation would take place.

 

Is my understanding correct?

 

Assuming that it is, how do I resolve this problem. For example, we use a

guest account for access in our conference room. When a client comes in, and

asks to use the Internet, they have to sit through a long period of time

while the system logs on because the Offline Folder cache is synchronising,

even though the guest account has no Offline Folders configured.

 

Has any body come up against this problem and found a solution,

 

My thanks in advance for any help,

 

Paul

[Guest Holz]

Re: A question about Offline Files and Folders

 

 

 

On Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:39:04 -0700

Paul Hansson <PaulHansson@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Hello one and all,

>

>We have many computers within our organisation which are accessed by

>users who have Offline Files and Folders configured via Group Policy.

>Those same computers are also accessed by users who do not have any

>Offline Folders configured.

>

>We have found that no matter who the user is, and if they have Offline

>Files configured or otherwise, when ever the user logs in or out, the

>computer synchronises the cache for all users.

>

>It was my understanding of this feature, that the cache would only be

>synchronised for the user who was logging in/out, and so if that user

>does not have Offline Folders, then no synchronisation would take

>place.

>

>Is my understanding correct?

>

>Assuming that it is, how do I resolve this problem. For example, we

>use a guest account for access in our conference room. When a client

>comes in, and asks to use the Internet, they have to sit through a

>long period of time while the system logs on because the Offline

>Folder cache is synchronising, even though the guest account has no

>Offline Folders configured.

>

>Has any body come up against this problem and found a solution,

>

>My thanks in advance for any help,

>

>Paul

 

 

If the group policy is per computer, then the computer will sync

regardless to the user.

If the policy is per user, then it is per user.

How to check? from the run box, run rsop.msc, and check which policies

are in effect.

 

 

--

Holz

:-)

[Guest Paul Hansson]

Re: A question about Offline Files and Folders

 

Hi Holz,

 

For the guest account, there is no configuration of Offline Files in the

User Policy, but when the guest account logs onto a computer where other

users who do have Offline Folders configured in their User Policy have logged

on, the synchronisation is triggered.

 

It's very strange. I can build a clean machine. Put it into my domain, do

not assign it any group policy, and log on as a user who has Offline Files

configured in their User Policy. From that point on, no matter who logs on to

that machine, Synchronisation is triggered. We have tried clearing the cache

and deleting the roaming user profiles. Nothing seems to make a difference.

 

We are at a loss to find what causes this,

 

Thanks for your reply

 

Paul

 

 

"Holz" wrote:

>

>

> On Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:39:04 -0700

> Paul Hansson <PaulHansson@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>

> >Hello one and all,

> >

> >We have many computers within our organisation which are accessed by

> >users who have Offline Files and Folders configured via Group Policy.

> >Those same computers are also accessed by users who do not have any

> >Offline Folders configured.

> >

> >We have found that no matter who the user is, and if they have Offline

> >Files configured or otherwise, when ever the user logs in or out, the

> >computer synchronises the cache for all users.

> >

> >It was my understanding of this feature, that the cache would only be

> >synchronised for the user who was logging in/out, and so if that user

> >does not have Offline Folders, then no synchronisation would take

> >place.

> >

> >Is my understanding correct?

> >

> >Assuming that it is, how do I resolve this problem. For example, we

> >use a guest account for access in our conference room. When a client

> >comes in, and asks to use the Internet, they have to sit through a

> >long period of time while the system logs on because the Offline

> >Folder cache is synchronising, even though the guest account has no

> >Offline Folders configured.

> >

> >Has any body come up against this problem and found a solution,

> >

> >My thanks in advance for any help,

> >

> >Paul

>

>

> If the group policy is per computer, then the computer will sync

> regardless to the user.

> If the policy is per user, then it is per user.

> How to check? from the run box, run rsop.msc, and check which policies

> are in effect.

>

>

> --

> Holz

> :-)

>

>

[Guest joelcipriano@hotmail.com]

Re: A question about Offline Files and Folders

 

I too am having this dilemma. I want only select users to syncronize

offline files with their computers. Any help? Ny other users need to

be out of the policy.

 

The only policy to turn on Offline files is a computer policy...so any

user logging on will use the offline cache. Some articles I have read

mention using Loopback / Merge Mode. I am having a difficult time

understanding how to use it.