1. Windows Server 2008 R2 / Windows 7 Group Policy Changes Harold Wong Sr. IT Pro Evangelist blogs.technet.com/haroldwong
2. Session Objectives Session Objective(s): Quick review of new GP features in Windows Server 2008 & Windows Vista SP1. In depth understand what Group Policy changes have been made to Windows Server 2008 R2 / Windows 7 How to get from Windows XP/2003 to Windows 7/R2 Takeaway GP in Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008 R2 is incremental, not major change
3. BackgroundHow Group Policy works now... Windows Vista/Windows Server 2008 Group Policy Service GP now runs in a shared service Hardened Service, more reliable Group Policy Process Part of Winlogon Templates ADM templates difficult to manage Group Policy Templates ADM Templates now in ADMX files (ADMX, ADML) ADM ADM ADM ADM ADM ADM ADMX Local GPOs Limited flexibility with a single local GPO Multiple Local GPOs LGPO’s LGPO’s Settings ~1,800 policy settings in XP Incomplete coverage means missing key scenarios Group Policy Settings Over 800 new policy changes with Windows Vista Extended GP for new Windows Vista features LGPO LGPO Local Computer Policy Local Computer Policy Admin Admin/Non-Admin Group Policy User User Specified Group Policy Network Limited awareness of changing network conditions Network Location Awareness (NLA) NLA service provides the latest network information Applications can query or register with NLA for network change indications Templates and Replication Journal Wrap anyone? Bloated SYSVOL? Group Policy Central Store Centralized repository for ADMX Created in the Sysvol on DC in each domain New Replicator with DFS-R ADMX ADML Troubleshooting User.env log GP Result Group Policy Logging Administrative log Applications and Services log XML based event logs New Tools - GPOLogView SysVol SysVol DC DC + Policies + GUID + ADM Policy Definitions + FRS/DFS-R ADMX, ADML Files
5. OverviewWhat is new in Windows Server 2008 R2 / Windows 7? GP PowerShell features Adding to GP scripts extensions PowerShell cmdlets to perform GP operations Starter GPOs in-box in Windows 7 Best practices that map to the security guide ADMX enhancements GP Preferences enhancements GP Preferences, new in Windows Server 2008 New items added to support new OS functionality
6. Powershell In and Out PowerShell Scripting inside GP Extend current reach of GP Script Extension to include PowerShell for logon/logoff, startup/shutdown scripts PowershellCmdlets for GPMC operations Full lifecycle: create, link, rename, backup, copy, remove Enables interesting new scenarios for customers PowershellCmdlets that write and read registry settings to GPO(s) Values can be written to either Policy or Preferences Settings can accept more value types
10. Starter GPOs Easy experience out-of-the-box Embody best practices that map to Microsoft security guide 8 System Starter GPOs: User and Computer case Available for Vista and XP SP2 Enterprise Client (EC) and Specialized Security Limited Functionality (SSLF) System vs Custom Static / Editable ADMX / Security Settings
11. ADMX Improvements New UI: More intuitive, integrated help content, no more tabs Support for: REG_MultiSZ REG_QWORD
13. GP Preferences Preference Settings Not true “Policy” More control of desktop – more settings! Not limited to policy-aware applications Ease of administration through rich UI Better targeting New in Windows Server 2008 R2 / Windows 7 Support for new Power Plan settings Support for new Schedule task triggers, actions, etc.
14. Richer UI Familiar Experience Clearer to understand and find Easy to manage Better control of individual settings – Red/Green Powerful browsers Avoids typing errors Configure settings quicker
15. Better Targeting Robust targeting 29 types Boolean logic (And, Or, Not) Collections Item level targeting, not GPO level Intuitive UI No need to learn query languages
17. What is new in ADMX 3000 Total ADMX settings 300 new ADMX settings IE more than 90 new Bitlocker Taskbar Power Terminal Services rebranded “Remote Desktop Services” Settings Spreadsheet
18. What about Security Settings? 12 settings added under Security Options Restrict NTLM (multiple) Kerberos encryption types Local System null session fallback Only supported on Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 R2 Settings Spreadsheet
31. RecommendationsExcessive GPOs Have heard up to 11,000 GPOs Not best practice GPMC has perf issues loading Management difficulties Troubleshooting difficulties Migration difficulties Recommendation: Consolidate AGPM is tested up to 2000 GPOs
32. FAQ’sDC’s, Domains and Forests Any impact for co-existence between Windows Server 2003 GP, Windows Server 2008 and R2 in the same domain? Are there any schema changes required? Are there any DomainPrep considerations? Does policy itself replicate any differently? Do you still use the same tools to diagnose replication issues like Ultrasound (FRS)?
33. FAQ’sADMX and Authoring Does ADMX make policy different? Is it stored any differently? What about the Vista Central Store? Will ADMX create an impact on my policies? Can I use ADM at all? Ok then, can I drop ADM files into the Central Store?
34. FAQ’sMiscellaneous With the move from Winlogon to a service does this mean users can deny policy applying? Do we have plans to provide an updated GPMC/GPOE to support Windows XP administrative PC’s with ADMX and the Central Store? Is there any way to restrict editing GPOs from certain OS versions ? i.e.: restrict editing from anything below W2K3 ? Is it a good idea to separate Vista/W7 GPOs from the Windows XP GPO‘s
35. DeploymentGuidance Applocker Policy Will only apply on Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise Best Practice: Separate Policy for Windows Vista/7 machines SRP Policy Can apply on Windows 7 and previous When W7 sees both SRP and Applocker it only applies Applocker Best Practice: Separate Policy for Windows Vista machines and previous Three methods for policy separation Grouping (Read/Apply control) Separate OU with GPO link WMI Filter Select * FROM <WMI_CLASS> WHERE <WMI Property>=<value> Select * FROM Win32_OperatingSystem WHERE Caption="Microsoft Vista" AND CSDVersion="Service Pack 2"
36. DeploymentGuidance Firewall Policy Will apply the most permissive rule Best Practice: Separate Policy for Windows Vista/7 machines IPSEC Policy Old UI for pre-Vista New UI for Vista Best Practice: Separate Policy for Windows Vista machines Three methods for policy separation Grouping (Read/Apply control) Separate OU with GPO link WMI Filter Select * FROM <WMI_CLASS> WHERE <WMI Property>=<value> Select * FROM Win32_OperatingSystem WHERE Caption="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" AND CSDVersion="Service Pack 2"
37. DeploymentGuidance Auditing Policy Totally different in XP to Vista Fine Grained (Vista/W7) as opposed to clumsy and awful (XP) Separate it Auditing Differences between Vista and Windows 7 Fundamentally the same (fine grained) No GP enablement in Windows Vista Vista uses auditpol.exe
38. Community Tools ADMX Migrator (FullArmor) http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0F1EEC3D-10C4-4B5F-9625-97C2F731090C&displaylang=en Sysprosoft ADM Template Editor www.sysprosoft.com PolicyPak Enhancements to GP www.policypak.com ILTEditor http://www.gruppenrichtlinien.de/tools/ILTEditor.zip
