Roaming Profiles VS Folder Redirection

[Warren G]

I have a Windows 2k3 Server and 12 different stations with the exact same setup (Windows XP Pro, Office 2007, etc). None of the users are stationary so each user logs on at a different station. What the users are doing on the stations: Word/Excel, Web Surfing, Chatting. I have restricted them to limited access so they cannot install anything, but I want them to be able to have their favorites,personal documents/files, and desktop settings on them every time they log on a different station. Would it be best if I'd stick to roaming profiles or go with folder redirection or go with both? Also is there a guide or can someone help me setting up new users with folder redirection or is that pretty much a manual process? I'd like it so when the new user signs on a station, windows creates their profile as roaming and have some of their folders (My Documents, Desktop)created as a redirected folder on the server.

[Jon]

If you want to provide them with their own desktop settings then the roaming profiles will be needed.

For automatic folder redirection, you're going to need to do it with group policy. It's under User Configuration\Windows Settings\Folder Redirection.

[CGR]

Roaming profiles is easier imo since you dont have that many users.

[gangaskan]

roaming ftw!


its easy to setup and maintain just watch the whole music in my docs or anything huge in my docs, mainly due to storage limits on your server. i have no idea how / what that currently looks like, but in my enterprise muisc on roaming profiles is a issue

[Warren G]

cool, thanks for the replies everyone, much appreciated. looks like ill be sticking with roaming and keeping the my documents folder as redirected. :D any other suggestions are welcomed :)