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Jnimz
95 pts.
 Redirecting Folders to Server in multi-location environment
folder redirection, Microsoft Small Business Server 2003, My Documents, Remote access, Remote users
The scenario:

I have clients that have two locations.  Location A has Windows SBS 2K3.  Location B has Windows Home Server.  I have Windows SyncToy updating the user folders so they are the same for each share on each server.

Users login at workstations at both locations. I need to have users login and use the local server folder for their My Documents redirection regardless of their location, due to the small pipe (DSL with VPN).

Is there any way to make it so that when a user logs in at location A, they use the folder redirection for location A, conversely, if the smae user logs in at location B, they use the folder redirection for location B?

I am thinking that I have been contemplating this solution long enough that I have over-analyized this problem and am no longer thinking of the "simple" solution!

-Jason



Software/Hardware used:
Windows SBS 2003, Windows Home Server
ASKED: December 8, 2009  5:55 PM
UPDATED: December 10, 2009  4:56 AM
RELATED QUESTIONS
Answer Wiki:
You should use Distributed File System (DFS) for your domain. It will provide users with the closest path and sync folders automatically. Just add your folders to a DFS share and update your folder redirection GPO after you've done some testing. The caveat is that in one location, I have a Windows Home Server, which to my understanding, cannot function as a member server without violating the EULA. Any thoughts?
Last Wiki Answer Submitted:  December 8, 2009  11:33 pm  by  mshen   27,310 pts.
All Answer Wiki Contributors:  mshen   27,310 pts.
To see all answers submitted to the Answer Wiki: View Answer History.


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Eureka! I had been so wrapped up in all sorts of stop-gap solutions, I failed to see the obvious.

Thanks!
-Jason

Jnimz
 95 pts.
 

Oops, think I slotted this in the wrong area:

The caveat is that in one location, I have a Windows Home Server, which to my understanding, cannot function as a member server without violating the EULA. Any thoughts?

Jnimz
 95 pts.
 

Yeah, Windows Home Server will be a problem. The only way to get DFS to work is to upgrade it to Server 2003 or to setup a new server 2003 file server at that location.

Another option is BranchCache for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, but the upgrade costs would be higher than upgrading the Server 2003 for DFS.

mshen
 27,310 pts.
 

Thanks Mshen,

BranchCache looks intruiging. I’ll have to check in to that more. As you said, not suitable for my current needs, but something to look at as the client migrates! Thanks for your input.

Jnimz
 95 pts.