Roaming profiles

Post by **TheCatt** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:06 am

Any experience/thoughts on these?

I didn't like the sound of it, except for a few users that need to be able to move to any machine and have their same setup, but the contractor said that they worked great, we'd never have synchronization issues, etc, etc, etc.

So far I'm torn. I like having my documents with me, but certain files can't replicate (MDB, PST, etc) and I'm concerned that it's just a bunch of hassle for some people who'll never use anything other than their 2 standard workstations. (Most people at my work have 2 desktops as their standard).

Post by **Leisher** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:29 am

I hate roaming profiles. I understand their invention, but they're a pain in the ass. I found them to be tremendous resource hogs. All they do is grow in size and each PC only has more and more people logging onto them. At OAPI (where Gordon, Cake, and I worked), we used for them for a while and they were the cause of a LOT of help desk calls.

You really have to think about why you would use them. What specifically do people need to have access to from PC to PC that cannot be given to them through other means like logon scripts?

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:30 am

Got them at my workplace. They suck up way too many resources, but the upside is if you absolutely, positively need some info to be there regardless of machine, it's good. More of a pain than a benefit, though.

Post by **thibodeaux** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:39 am

Resouce hog.

If it's about have documents follow you around, why can't you solve that with a network share or something?

Edited By thibodeaux on 1188571210

Post by **TheCatt** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:51 am

Yeah, that's what I wondered too. Why not just map a drive in their profile (ie have My Documents point to some network share or something like that).

Ah well.

Post by **GORDON** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 11:10 am

thibodeaux wrote:Resouce hog.

If it's about have documents follow you around, why can't you solve that with a network share or something?

Thumbdrive, on the same keyring as your security code key fob.

Post by **Leisher** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 11:22 am

If it's about have documents follow you around, why can't you solve that with a network share or something?

Why not just map a drive in their profile (ie have My Documents point to some network share or something like that).

Exactly.

I've never seen a roaming profile that had an actual purpose other than ensuring the person's wallpaper and such followed them. I mean, I'm sure legit reasons are out there, I just haven't seen the need in person.

Post by **TheCatt** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 11:55 am

Yeah, and the genius pointed the redirected My Documents folder and the roaming profile to the EXACT SAME PATH.

So now all of my documents appear underneath a user's <loginid> directory, and all of their profile information also shows up under their My Documents.

Edited By TheCatt on 1188575806

Post by **TheCatt** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:34 am

So.... I modified them to not be as obnoxious (Only desktop/my documents are included), and provided all users with a network drive to store stuff on that they should use primarily.

It came in handy this week when our CFO got his machine infected. I'm not 100% sure how Symantec AV let the stuff through, but it did. And it's always easier to re-image (10 minutes) than repair.

I walked into his office, took his old laptop, gave him the new laptop, the end.

Post by **TheCatt** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:36 am

Oh, we use profile redirection, so My Docs and Desktop are actually stored on the network, and synch'ed for performance, which seems to be a ton better than pure roaming profiles.

I guess the only thing roaming profiles really does it make their settings stick (quick launch bars, monitor configuration, etc).

Overall, I like it this way.

Edited By TheCatt on 1192793808