I have 5 sites that have file servers in them. We assign a user's home profile in AD (home folder) to be the server closest to them, for performance sake. We also use folder re-direction via GPO, as well as offline files (sometimes, the WAN connections can hiccup, and we lose connectivity). A mostly standard (or not unknown) configuration, right?
Here's my problem/aggravation: I have people move from site to site all the time. Their computer goes with them. Rather than have them access all their files over a WAN link, we want them to access them locally, for performance reasons. This means I have to synchronize their re-directed folders; backup their files at the old fileserver; restore to the new fileserver; delete their offline files cache (else it will continue to synchronize to their old fileserver); and change their profile setting in AD. Unfortunately, I can't schedule the time of their move, so I end up hearing about it after they've moved into their new site. So I either have to interrupt their day and stop their computer usage (while the backup/restore is taking place), or try and doing it in the evening, remotely, on my time from home. This is - of course - further complicated by the fact that I have to coordinate with the user's schedule for daytime work, etc. I know that a good chunk of my problem is not technical, it's the fact that I can't do the backup and delete offline cache as the last step before the user moves, so that by the time they are all set up at their new site, everything is ready to go (in terms of cleared offline folders cache, and new entry in profile setting in AD, and restore done to new server). But since I (apparently) can't change this process, I'm looking for some advice on ways to make my life easier. Any advice? (from a technical standpoint, I mean) Better way to do this? I don't think something like DFS would help, but I've never used it, so I'm not sure. Something I am not yet aware of? Details: Win2000 AD Clients are either Win2000 or WinXP Pro Backup software is EMC NetWorker WAN links are Verizon TLS (Transparent LAN Service) - effectively speaking, we use a VLAN on Verizons fiber LAN. It is pretty reliable. Thanks -- Michael Leone Network Administrator, ISM Philadelphia Housing Authority 2500 Jackson St Philadelphia, PA 19145 Tel: 215-684-4180 Cell: 215-252-0143 <mailto:michael.le...@pha.phila.gov> ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
