Folder redirection in Active Directory allows administrators to redirect users' special folders like Documents, Desktop, and Start Menu to centralized network locations. There are basic and advanced redirection modes that either redirect all users to the same location or allow specifying different locations for user groups. Redirecting folders centralizes data, improves data security and backup capabilities, and supports offline access to files. However, administrators must be careful of potential permission and access issues when redirecting folders.

1. Folder
Redirection
in Active
Directory
Almaty 2008

2. Agenda
• Introduction
• Redirection modes
• Advantages
• Constrains
• Warnings
• Consequences
• Conclusion
• Related subjects

3. Introduction
• Folder redirection is a new approach to user
profile folder allocation on server.
• Four special folders are to be redirected in AD by
default
– Application Data
– My Documents
– Desktop
– Start Menu
• Group policy/User Configurations/Windows
Settings/Folder Redirection/%Folder Name%

4. Redirection modes
• Basic - Redirect everyone's folder to the same
location
– Target folder location
• Redirect to the local user profile location
• Create folder for each user under the root path
• Redirect to the following location
• Advanced –Specify locations for various user
group

5. Advantages
• Supports utilizing of slow speed networks
• Offline file(cached file) technology lets users utilize “My
Documents” even if network connection is failed.
• User data can be archived during ongoing administration what is to
be more secure since user is isolated from the process
• Administrator can limit disc quota allocated for certain folder
• User data can be redirected to HD of the local computer from
another HD where system files are stored. It plays safe user files if
OS reinstallation will be needed.
• Whilst profile redirection you will not move folder itself but only
network path, so data does not move between client and server
making logging process faster.
• Backup copies of data are safely stored on server

6. Constrains
• Only members of Administrators, Group policy
owner and Enterprise Administrator groups
• Utilization of the facility makes sense if folder
forest has been already evolved and it is to be
superposed with new ones
• Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP
Home Edition doesn’t support redirection into
home directory
• You must the owner of the folder tend to be
redirection location else redirection will be
cancelled.

7. Warnings
• Redirection into home directory should be used
only if backward compatibility necessity occurs
• Administrators will have total control over “My
Documents” folder if redirected
• Even if Grant the user exclusive rights to My
Documents option in Folder Settings of “My
Documents” is checked.
• Try to grant access to the home directory only to
limited number of people working with it

8. Consequences

9. Consequences
• Triggered on:
– Special folder will return to the local user profile location
– The content will be copied (not replaced ) back to profile location
– The content will not be erased from the redirected folder location
– User will have acces to the content only on the local computer
•
• Triggerred off:
– Special folder will return to the local user profile location
– The content will be relocated to profile location
• Attention!
– If the content was not copied into user profile location he or she will not be able to see it
– Special folder will leave in new location
– The content also will leave in new location
– User still have access to the content in redirected location

10. Conclusion
• Folder Redirection is very efficient and
valuable facility of network management

11. Related Subjects
• Offline files
• Group policy
• Permissions and rights
• Security groups

12. Thank you