Guest -Draino- Posted March 17, 2008 Posted March 17, 2008 Hi all, I am not sure why I would want to use offline files? Scenario is as follows: On my local workstation I have my document folder that I write and change files. On my server I have folder redirection enabled. If I change files on my local workstation they change on the server as well. If my server goes down I still have a local copy on my workstation. If I make any changes while the server is down....so what, they will get copied when the server comes back online.....right??? Am I missing something?? D -- For The Best Web Hosting Money Can Buy Go To: http://www.serverpoint.com/1028.html
Guest Dave Nickason [SBS MVP] Posted March 17, 2008 Posted March 17, 2008 Re: Offline Files I'm not sure I understand your configuration. If you have redirection enabled, your My Documents folder is actually stored on the server. In the default configuration for redirection, your documents are synchronized to the local PC, and that's Offline Files. So if the server is unavailable for any reason, you work from the offline copy, which then syncs back up when the server becomes available, or at logoff, etc. depending on how you've configured it. If you r-click My Documents on the Start Menu -> Properties, you'll be able to see if the My Documents folder is kept on the server or locally. And if you go to Windows Explorer and click Tools -> Folder Options -> Offline Files -> View, you'll be able to see the offline copies of the files that are stored on the server. IMO this scenario gives the best of both worlds - the docs are stored on the server for backup purposes, while being available on the local PC in case an unexpected event prevents access to the server copies. "-Draino-" <guest@unknown.com> wrote in message news:DE170DCB-CA6F-4D31-926F-CDA5E9724EE2@microsoft.com... > Hi all, > > I am not sure why I would want to use offline files? > > Scenario is as follows: > > On my local workstation I have my document folder that I write and change > files. On my server I have folder redirection enabled. If I change files > on my local workstation they change on the server as well. > > If my server goes down I still have a local copy on my workstation. If I > make any changes while the server is down....so what, they will get copied > when the server comes back online.....right??? > > Am I missing something?? > > > D > > -- > > > > > > > For The Best Web Hosting Money Can Buy Go To: > http://www.serverpoint.com/1028.html
Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] Posted March 17, 2008 Posted March 17, 2008 Re: Offline Files -Draino- <guest@unknown.com> wrote: > Hi all, > > I am not sure why I would want to use offline files? Nor am I! > > Scenario is as follows: > > On my local workstation I have my document folder that I write and > change files. On my server I have folder redirection enabled. If I > change files on my local workstation they change on the server as > well. Not in realtime, if you're using offline files. > > If my server goes down I still have a local copy on my workstation. > If I make any changes while the server is down....so what, they will > get copied when the server comes back online.....right??? Unless something goes wrong. And things *do* go wrong sometimes. And in a small office, if "the server" (as opposed to a larger network with *multiple* servers) goes down I don't want users accessing/working on anything, period. Just in case. > > Am I missing something?? I personally don't see why anyone would want offline files enabled on LAN connected machines. I disable it via group policy and use folder redirection for My Documents, and usually also Application Data and Desktop. > > > D
Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] Posted March 17, 2008 Posted March 17, 2008 Re: Offline Files Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] <lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmailatyahoo.com> wrote: > -Draino- <guest@unknown.com> wrote: >> Hi all, >> >> I am not sure why I would want to use offline files? > > Nor am I! >> >> Scenario is as follows: >> >> On my local workstation I have my document folder that I write and >> change files. On my server I have folder redirection enabled. If I >> change files on my local workstation they change on the server as >> well. > > Not in realtime, if you're using offline files. Sorry, my bad - if your server's up you are entirely correct. >> >> If my server goes down I still have a local copy on my workstation. >> If I make any changes while the server is down....so what, they will >> get copied when the server comes back online.....right??? > > Unless something goes wrong. And things *do* go wrong sometimes. And > in a small office, if "the server" (as opposed to a larger network > with *multiple* servers) goes down I don't want users > accessing/working on anything, period. Just in case. >> >> Am I missing something?? > > I personally don't see why anyone would want offline files enabled on > LAN connected machines. I disable it via group policy and use folder > redirection for My Documents, and usually also Application Data and > Desktop. >> >> >> D
Guest -Draino- Posted March 18, 2008 Posted March 18, 2008 Re: Offline Files Let me try again. Brand New SBS 2003 Server. Out of the box it has an option in server config for Folder Redirect. Default is Documents only, App Data, Desktop, and Start Menu not setup by default but do exist in the default GP. I set it up with one click and am only using defaults for now. SBS 2003 already has a shared folder by default for storing the folder redirects...right out of the box!!!! Really Cool On my XPSP2 box I have many folders and files in my "My Documents" folder. I have not logged on to the Server from the XP box yet. But when I do, all of my documents will be redirected to the SBS Server. Reading the documentation tells me that I will still retain a local version of all files in the "My Documents" folder and I will also have an exact copy on the SBS server. I am guessing that the local copy is a cached copy and the "real" files are on the Server. So when I make changes on the local XP machine they will change in real time on the server. If my server goes down, I still have a local copy that I can work with and it never really matters if the server NEVER comes back online. If this is the case why would I even consider making these files on the server available offline??? In a sense they are already available offline.....right??? I was reading this: http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Profile-Folder-Redirection-Windows-Server-2003.html but have also read somewhere that offline files should be used as well. Hope this clears things up a little. D "Dave Nickason [sBS MVP]" <gwdibble@NOSPAM.frontiernet.net> wrote in message news:ECF351E4-C577-47E1-9288-7EBAF0B094C3@microsoft.com... > I'm not sure I understand your configuration. If you have redirection > enabled, your My Documents folder is actually stored on the server. In > the default configuration for redirection, your documents are synchronized > to the local PC, and that's Offline Files. So if the server is > unavailable for any reason, you work from the offline copy, which then > syncs back up when the server becomes available, or at logoff, etc. > depending on how you've configured it. > > If you r-click My Documents on the Start Menu -> Properties, you'll be > able to see if the My Documents folder is kept on the server or locally. > And if you go to Windows Explorer and click Tools -> Folder Options -> > Offline Files -> View, you'll be able to see the offline copies of the > files that are stored on the server. > > IMO this scenario gives the best of both worlds - the docs are stored on > the server for backup purposes, while being available on the local PC in > case an unexpected event prevents access to the server copies. > > "-Draino-" <guest@unknown.com> wrote in message > news:DE170DCB-CA6F-4D31-926F-CDA5E9724EE2@microsoft.com... >> Hi all, >> >> I am not sure why I would want to use offline files? >> >> Scenario is as follows: >> >> On my local workstation I have my document folder that I write and change >> files. On my server I have folder redirection enabled. If I change files >> on my local workstation they change on the server as well. >> >> If my server goes down I still have a local copy on my workstation. If I >> make any changes while the server is down....so what, they will get >> copied when the server comes back online.....right??? >> >> Am I missing something?? >> >> >> D >> >> -- >> >> >> >> >> >> >> For The Best Web Hosting Money Can Buy Go To: >> http://www.serverpoint.com/1028.html >
Guest Dave Nickason [SBS MVP] Posted March 18, 2008 Posted March 18, 2008 Re: Offline Files Right on all counts. When you log in, the group policy will apply, and your existing My Documents folder and all contents will be moved to the server. The "local copy" you refer to is only available because of Offline Files. It should be configured automatically, so in that respect, you are correct in saying that you would not configure it manually. It'll just take care of itself, although I do recommend going into the offline files settings on the XP machine and configuring how it syncs (for example, at system startup). FWIW, my opinion on offline files differs from Duncan and Lanwench. I have not had problems caused by synchronization or anything else to do with this process. However, I do need users to be protected against unexpected network or server down time. I work in a firm where people are frequently working at or near a deadline, and the inability to access a document could cause serious consequences. I need those files to be reliably available offline, and they are (and I've tested it). If you think about the points of failure between your workstation and the server, even a $3 cable or $50 switch can keep you from accessing a document. With offline and redirection, if a workstation goes down, you can just log in elsewhere and go back to work. If anything outside the workstation goes down, you just transparently start working from the cached copy. "NEVER comes back online" is a special case. If that happens, or if a server has to be scratch reinstalled, you need to go to Windows Explorer on the workstation, and save the files somewhere outside the offline cache. Of course you would have a good server backup and this would just be precautionary, but if you join the workstation to a newly created domain or otherwise lose the ability to authenticate the original user account, you can lose access to cached copies. "-Draino-" <guest@unknown.com> wrote in message news:3EB73804-6777-44F2-A545-7AF293E17B7D@microsoft.com... > Let me try again. > > Brand New SBS 2003 Server. Out of the box it has an option in server > config for Folder Redirect. Default is Documents only, App Data, Desktop, > and Start Menu not setup by default but do exist in the default GP. I set > it up with one click and am only using defaults for now. > > SBS 2003 already has a shared folder by default for storing the folder > redirects...right out of the box!!!! Really Cool > > On my XPSP2 box I have many folders and files in my "My Documents" folder. > I have not logged on to the Server from the XP box yet. But when I do, all > of my documents will be redirected to the SBS Server. Reading the > documentation tells me that I will still retain a local version of all > files in the "My Documents" folder and I will also have an exact copy on > the SBS server. I am guessing that the local copy is a cached copy and the > "real" files are on the Server. So when I make changes on the local XP > machine they will change in real time on the server. > > If my server goes down, I still have a local copy that I can work with and > it never really matters if the server NEVER comes back online. If this is > the case why would I even consider making these files on the server > available offline??? In a sense they are already available > offline.....right??? > > I was reading this: > http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Profile-Folder-Redirection-Windows-Server-2003.html > but have also read somewhere that offline files should be used as well. > > Hope this clears things up a little. > > > D > > > > "Dave Nickason [sBS MVP]" <gwdibble@NOSPAM.frontiernet.net> wrote in > message news:ECF351E4-C577-47E1-9288-7EBAF0B094C3@microsoft.com... >> I'm not sure I understand your configuration. If you have redirection >> enabled, your My Documents folder is actually stored on the server. In >> the default configuration for redirection, your documents are >> synchronized to the local PC, and that's Offline Files. So if the server >> is unavailable for any reason, you work from the offline copy, which then >> syncs back up when the server becomes available, or at logoff, etc. >> depending on how you've configured it. >> >> If you r-click My Documents on the Start Menu -> Properties, you'll be >> able to see if the My Documents folder is kept on the server or locally. >> And if you go to Windows Explorer and click Tools -> Folder Options -> >> Offline Files -> View, you'll be able to see the offline copies of the >> files that are stored on the server. >> >> IMO this scenario gives the best of both worlds - the docs are stored on >> the server for backup purposes, while being available on the local PC in >> case an unexpected event prevents access to the server copies. >> >> "-Draino-" <guest@unknown.com> wrote in message >> news:DE170DCB-CA6F-4D31-926F-CDA5E9724EE2@microsoft.com... >>> Hi all, >>> >>> I am not sure why I would want to use offline files? >>> >>> Scenario is as follows: >>> >>> On my local workstation I have my document folder that I write and >>> change files. On my server I have folder redirection enabled. If I >>> change files on my local workstation they change on the server as well. >>> >>> If my server goes down I still have a local copy on my workstation. If I >>> make any changes while the server is down....so what, they will get >>> copied when the server comes back online.....right??? >>> >>> Am I missing something?? >>> >>> >>> D >>> >>> -- >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> For The Best Web Hosting Money Can Buy Go To: >>> http://www.serverpoint.com/1028.html >>
Guest -Draino- Posted March 18, 2008 Posted March 18, 2008 Re: Offline Files Hi Dave, What I didn't realize is that when I log on to the Domain from a Workstation the Workstation gets a "new" My Doc's Folder named "My Documents.ServerName" It didn't move my original "My Documents" folder to the Server. Did I do something wrong??? I did not change the permissions on the default W2K3 Users folder. I did create 3 subfolders named for each of my users but I did not set permissions on them. When I look in these folders I can see a subfolder was created in each of the folders for each of my users, Documents was created as well as My Pictures folder. Any Help would be appreciated Thanks, Randy Desrochers "Dave Nickason [sBS MVP]" <gwdibble@NOSPAM.frontiernet.net> wrote in message news:3CD65C5C-7F81-41A6-8002-C56F6A60C83C@microsoft.com... > Right on all counts. When you log in, the group policy will apply, and > your existing My Documents folder and all contents will be moved to the > server. The "local copy" you refer to is only available because of Offline > Files. It should be configured automatically, so in that respect, you are > correct in saying that you would not configure it manually. It'll just > take care of itself, although I do recommend going into the offline files > settings on the XP machine and configuring how it syncs (for example, at > system startup). > > FWIW, my opinion on offline files differs from Duncan and Lanwench. I > have not had problems caused by synchronization or anything else to do > with this process. However, I do need users to be protected against > unexpected network or server down time. I work in a firm where people are > frequently working at or near a deadline, and the inability to access a > document could cause serious consequences. I need those files to be > reliably available offline, and they are (and I've tested it). If you > think about the points of failure between your workstation and the server, > even a $3 cable or $50 switch can keep you from accessing a document. > With offline and redirection, if a workstation goes down, you can just log > in elsewhere and go back to work. If anything outside the workstation > goes down, you just transparently start working from the cached copy. > > "NEVER comes back online" is a special case. If that happens, or if a > server has to be scratch reinstalled, you need to go to Windows Explorer > on the workstation, and save the files somewhere outside the offline > cache. Of course you would have a good server backup and this would just > be precautionary, but if you join the workstation to a newly created > domain or otherwise lose the ability to authenticate the original user > account, you can lose access to cached copies. > > > "-Draino-" <guest@unknown.com> wrote in message > news:3EB73804-6777-44F2-A545-7AF293E17B7D@microsoft.com... >> Let me try again. >> >> Brand New SBS 2003 Server. Out of the box it has an option in server >> config for Folder Redirect. Default is Documents only, App Data, Desktop, >> and Start Menu not setup by default but do exist in the default GP. I set >> it up with one click and am only using defaults for now. >> >> SBS 2003 already has a shared folder by default for storing the folder >> redirects...right out of the box!!!! Really Cool >> >> On my XPSP2 box I have many folders and files in my "My Documents" >> folder. I have not logged on to the Server from the XP box yet. But when >> I do, all of my documents will be redirected to the SBS Server. Reading >> the documentation tells me that I will still retain a local version of >> all files in the "My Documents" folder and I will also have an exact copy >> on the SBS server. I am guessing that the local copy is a cached copy and >> the "real" files are on the Server. So when I make changes on the local >> XP machine they will change in real time on the server. >> >> If my server goes down, I still have a local copy that I can work with >> and it never really matters if the server NEVER comes back online. If >> this is the case why would I even consider making these files on the >> server available offline??? In a sense they are already available >> offline.....right??? >> >> I was reading this: >> http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Profile-Folder-Redirection-Windows-Server-2003.html >> but have also read somewhere that offline files should be used as well. >> >> Hope this clears things up a little. >> >> >> D >> >> >> >> "Dave Nickason [sBS MVP]" <gwdibble@NOSPAM.frontiernet.net> wrote in >> message news:ECF351E4-C577-47E1-9288-7EBAF0B094C3@microsoft.com... >>> I'm not sure I understand your configuration. If you have redirection >>> enabled, your My Documents folder is actually stored on the server. In >>> the default configuration for redirection, your documents are >>> synchronized to the local PC, and that's Offline Files. So if the >>> server is unavailable for any reason, you work from the offline copy, >>> which then syncs back up when the server becomes available, or at >>> logoff, etc. depending on how you've configured it. >>> >>> If you r-click My Documents on the Start Menu -> Properties, you'll be >>> able to see if the My Documents folder is kept on the server or locally. >>> And if you go to Windows Explorer and click Tools -> Folder Options -> >>> Offline Files -> View, you'll be able to see the offline copies of the >>> files that are stored on the server. >>> >>> IMO this scenario gives the best of both worlds - the docs are stored on >>> the server for backup purposes, while being available on the local PC in >>> case an unexpected event prevents access to the server copies. >>> >>> "-Draino-" <guest@unknown.com> wrote in message >>> news:DE170DCB-CA6F-4D31-926F-CDA5E9724EE2@microsoft.com... >>>> Hi all, >>>> >>>> I am not sure why I would want to use offline files? >>>> >>>> Scenario is as follows: >>>> >>>> On my local workstation I have my document folder that I write and >>>> change files. On my server I have folder redirection enabled. If I >>>> change files on my local workstation they change on the server as well. >>>> >>>> If my server goes down I still have a local copy on my workstation. If >>>> I make any changes while the server is down....so what, they will get >>>> copied when the server comes back online.....right??? >>>> >>>> Am I missing something?? >>>> >>>> >>>> D >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> For The Best Web Hosting Money Can Buy Go To: >>>> http://www.serverpoint.com/1028.html >>> >
Guest Dave Nickason [SBS MVP] Posted March 19, 2008 Posted March 19, 2008 Re: Offline Files You should not have a local copy that you can access by browsing the file system. The local copy is in the "client-side cache" - also known as Offline Files. To view the offline files, you have to go to Windows Explorer Tools -> Folder Options and look on the offline tab. Click the View button to see the contents of the cache. "-Draino-" <guest@unknown.com> wrote in message news:FE6C5380-3E4A-4B23-9567-14CC133BDA7B@microsoft.com... > Hi Dave, > > What I didn't realize is that when I log on to the Domain from a > Workstation the Workstation gets a "new" My Doc's Folder named "My > Documents.ServerName" > > It didn't move my original "My Documents" folder to the Server. Did I do > something wrong??? > > I did not change the permissions on the default W2K3 Users folder. I did > create 3 subfolders named for each of my users but I did not set > permissions on them. When I look in these folders I can see a subfolder > was created in each of the folders for each of my users, Documents was > created as well as My Pictures folder. > > Any Help would be appreciated > > Thanks, > > Randy Desrochers > > > > "Dave Nickason [sBS MVP]" <gwdibble@NOSPAM.frontiernet.net> wrote in > message news:3CD65C5C-7F81-41A6-8002-C56F6A60C83C@microsoft.com... >> Right on all counts. When you log in, the group policy will apply, and >> your existing My Documents folder and all contents will be moved to the >> server. The "local copy" you refer to is only available because of >> Offline Files. It should be configured automatically, so in that respect, >> you are correct in saying that you would not configure it manually. >> It'll just take care of itself, although I do recommend going into the >> offline files settings on the XP machine and configuring how it syncs >> (for example, at system startup). >> >> FWIW, my opinion on offline files differs from Duncan and Lanwench. I >> have not had problems caused by synchronization or anything else to do >> with this process. However, I do need users to be protected against >> unexpected network or server down time. I work in a firm where people >> are frequently working at or near a deadline, and the inability to access >> a document could cause serious consequences. I need those files to be >> reliably available offline, and they are (and I've tested it). If you >> think about the points of failure between your workstation and the >> server, even a $3 cable or $50 switch can keep you from accessing a >> document. With offline and redirection, if a workstation goes down, you >> can just log in elsewhere and go back to work. If anything outside the >> workstation goes down, you just transparently start working from the >> cached copy. >> >> "NEVER comes back online" is a special case. If that happens, or if a >> server has to be scratch reinstalled, you need to go to Windows Explorer >> on the workstation, and save the files somewhere outside the offline >> cache. Of course you would have a good server backup and this would just >> be precautionary, but if you join the workstation to a newly created >> domain or otherwise lose the ability to authenticate the original user >> account, you can lose access to cached copies. >> >> >> "-Draino-" <guest@unknown.com> wrote in message >> news:3EB73804-6777-44F2-A545-7AF293E17B7D@microsoft.com... >>> Let me try again. >>> >>> Brand New SBS 2003 Server. Out of the box it has an option in server >>> config for Folder Redirect. Default is Documents only, App Data, >>> Desktop, and Start Menu not setup by default but do exist in the default >>> GP. I set it up with one click and am only using defaults for now. >>> >>> SBS 2003 already has a shared folder by default for storing the folder >>> redirects...right out of the box!!!! Really Cool >>> >>> On my XPSP2 box I have many folders and files in my "My Documents" >>> folder. I have not logged on to the Server from the XP box yet. But when >>> I do, all of my documents will be redirected to the SBS Server. Reading >>> the documentation tells me that I will still retain a local version of >>> all files in the "My Documents" folder and I will also have an exact >>> copy on the SBS server. I am guessing that the local copy is a cached >>> copy and the "real" files are on the Server. So when I make changes on >>> the local XP machine they will change in real time on the server. >>> >>> If my server goes down, I still have a local copy that I can work with >>> and it never really matters if the server NEVER comes back online. If >>> this is the case why would I even consider making these files on the >>> server available offline??? In a sense they are already available >>> offline.....right??? >>> >>> I was reading this: >>> http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Profile-Folder-Redirection-Windows-Server-2003.html >>> but have also read somewhere that offline files should be used as well. >>> >>> Hope this clears things up a little. >>> >>> >>> D >>> >>> >>> >>> "Dave Nickason [sBS MVP]" <gwdibble@NOSPAM.frontiernet.net> wrote in >>> message news:ECF351E4-C577-47E1-9288-7EBAF0B094C3@microsoft.com... >>>> I'm not sure I understand your configuration. If you have redirection >>>> enabled, your My Documents folder is actually stored on the server. In >>>> the default configuration for redirection, your documents are >>>> synchronized to the local PC, and that's Offline Files. So if the >>>> server is unavailable for any reason, you work from the offline copy, >>>> which then syncs back up when the server becomes available, or at >>>> logoff, etc. depending on how you've configured it. >>>> >>>> If you r-click My Documents on the Start Menu -> Properties, you'll be >>>> able to see if the My Documents folder is kept on the server or >>>> locally. And if you go to Windows Explorer and click Tools -> Folder >>>> Options -> Offline Files -> View, you'll be able to see the offline >>>> copies of the files that are stored on the server. >>>> >>>> IMO this scenario gives the best of both worlds - the docs are stored >>>> on the server for backup purposes, while being available on the local >>>> PC in case an unexpected event prevents access to the server copies. >>>> >>>> "-Draino-" <guest@unknown.com> wrote in message >>>> news:DE170DCB-CA6F-4D31-926F-CDA5E9724EE2@microsoft.com... >>>>> Hi all, >>>>> >>>>> I am not sure why I would want to use offline files? >>>>> >>>>> Scenario is as follows: >>>>> >>>>> On my local workstation I have my document folder that I write and >>>>> change files. On my server I have folder redirection enabled. If I >>>>> change files on my local workstation they change on the server as >>>>> well. >>>>> >>>>> If my server goes down I still have a local copy on my workstation. If >>>>> I make any changes while the server is down....so what, they will get >>>>> copied when the server comes back online.....right??? >>>>> >>>>> Am I missing something?? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> D >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> For The Best Web Hosting Money Can Buy Go To: >>>>> http://www.serverpoint.com/1028.html >>>> >>
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