Domain Folder Redirection

[lone wolf]

Hello Everyone!

I have a domain with about 200 users all over the US, in all but one location we have a Gigabit network with ample server storage. I just upgraded to Server 2012 R2 for all server and have a specific server for the users Home drives and folder redirection.

My question is this; is folder redirection via GPO still a good thing in todays system administration? I have plenty of users who delete files from their systems then i have to recover, causing downtime, with the folder redirection I can make sure that nothing is deleted.

How many Sys / Network Admins still use Folder redirection?

thanks all

 

[swatbat]

Unless you have a standard image folder redirection works better than roaming profiles. I'm generally kinda selective on it though. IE I'll redirect favorites, documents, and desktop folders. I usually don't do stuff like the music folders as I don't care if they get deleted.

Big thing is to make sure the server has the disk I/O to keep up with it.

 

[hawk82]

Redirected Docs doesn't sound like a great idea over VPN. You get one person who drops an ISO or other large file on their desktop and that will try to sync up and use up bandwidth on both ends. I think RDS server & redirected docs would be a better solution.

 

[Nate7311]

Almost universally, I do: My Docs, Favorites (almost useless, but some still insist on IE), and sometimes Pictures depending on the user and their function. Combine this with the express policy that nothing on the desktops (C: Drive) is protected, "If it matters or you want it backed up, keep it on a shared drive or your My Docs/Home drive". The whole concept of Folder Redirection is as much about saving the user from themselves as anything else, especially combined with Shadow Copies on the hosting server.