synchronize folders

Trying to figure out how to make sure the working files in MyDocs are on the
local computer, yet copied to the server. I have one user computer that
appears to be setup correctly, but not sure. It was setup by the 'real'
admin.

MyDocs > Properties: Target H:\MyDocs (isn't this actually removing from
local?)
Enable Offline Files is disabled.

Shouldn't the Target be set to the local C Drive and the Enable Offline be
checked?
Seems like the above example is opposite of what I want, correct?

thanks

shank <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Trying to figure out how to make sure the working files in MyDocs are
> on the local computer, yet copied to the server. I have one user
> computer that appears to be setup correctly, but not sure. It was
> setup by the 'real' admin.
>
> MyDocs > Properties: Target H:\MyDocs (isn't this actually removing
> from local?)

Not removed. It's just redirected.
>
> Enable Offline Files is disabled.
>
> Shouldn't the Target be set to the local C Drive and the Enable
> Offline be checked?

No - you couldn't do that. If it's local there's nothing to make offline.
;-)
You *could* redirect My Docs as it is....and *then* enable offline files.

> Seems like the above example is opposite of what I want, correct?
>
> thanks

I'm not a fan of offline files in general, but especially on desktops
connected to the LAN. If this is a laptop, that's one thing - but users in
the office should always be working from the server copies of their files.
Offline files can cause problems and lost data. If you have both laptop &
desktop users set up diferent GPOs and OUs for them so that not everyone has
offline files.

I did change target to H: and also enabled Offline files. But I'm not
understanding how this works. Is the data file saved to the server, then
copied back to the client? Or saved on the client and copied to the server?
The reason I ask is I work with MS Access a lot. If it's being saved on the
server and copied back to the client and I lose connection with it open, I
see it getting hosed. However, if saved to the client and copied to the
server, I think it'd be OK.

We have a backup service installed that backs up every 15 minutes on the
server only. I see pros and cons about storing PST files on client or
server. I think the best way is to save on the client and copy to the
server. However, I don't see any great way to sync it every 1/2 hour so we
get the best restore options. I tried downloading MS Outlook Backup. That's
just a backup and cannot work with Outlook open. So now I'm using the WinXP
backup scheduled at 12:01am everyday to backup the entire profile to the
network. It's looking like profiles are around 15-25GB. Is there a better
way?

thanks

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
<(E-Mail Removed) hoo.com> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> shank <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> Trying to figure out how to make sure the working files in MyDocs are
>> on the local computer, yet copied to the server. I have one user
>> computer that appears to be setup correctly, but not sure. It was
>> setup by the 'real' admin.
>>
>> MyDocs > Properties: Target H:\MyDocs (isn't this actually removing
>> from local?)
>
> Not removed. It's just redirected.
>>
>> Enable Offline Files is disabled.
>>
>> Shouldn't the Target be set to the local C Drive and the Enable
>> Offline be checked?
>
> No - you couldn't do that. If it's local there's nothing to make offline.
> ;-)
> You *could* redirect My Docs as it is....and *then* enable offline files.
>
>> Seems like the above example is opposite of what I want, correct?
>>
>> thanks
>
> I'm not a fan of offline files in general, but especially on desktops
> connected to the LAN. If this is a laptop, that's one thing - but users in
> the office should always be working from the server copies of their files.
> Offline files can cause problems and lost data. If you have both laptop &
> desktop users set up diferent GPOs and OUs for them so that not everyone
> has offline files.
>
>

shank <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I did change target to H: and also enabled Offline files. But I'm not
> understanding how this works. Is the data file saved to the server,
> then copied back to the client?

Nope.

> Or saved on the client and copied to
> the server?

Yes.

> The reason I ask is I work with MS Access a lot. If it's
> being saved on the server and copied back to the client and I lose
> connection with it open, I see it getting hosed. However, if saved to
> the client and copied to the server, I think it'd be OK.

But what's the reason you wouldn't just access it directly from the server
anyway?
>
> We have a backup service installed that backs up every 15 minutes on
> the server only.

That wouldn't work here, though - in that your changes would be uploaded to
the server only opon logout (or manual sync).

> I see pros and cons about storing PST files on
> client or server.

PST files should be avoided altogether in corporate networks. They must be
stored/access on the local hard drive only - it isn't supported in any other
way. Plus you can't sync them with offline files. Time for Exchange. If you
can't swing this in house then look into hosted Exchange.

> I think the best way is to save on the client and
> copy to the server. However, I don't see any great way to sync it
> every 1/2 hour so we get the best restore options. I tried
> downloading MS Outlook Backup. That's just a backup and cannot work
> with Outlook open. So now I'm using the WinXP backup scheduled at
> 12:01am everyday to backup the entire profile to the network. It's
> looking like profiles are around 15-25GB. Is there a better way?

Ugh. Yes, abandon that. Work directly from the server and do not back up
workstations!
>
> thanks
>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
> <(E-Mail Removed) hoo.com> wrote in
> message news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> shank <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>> Trying to figure out how to make sure the working files in MyDocs
>>> are on the local computer, yet copied to the server. I have one user
>>> computer that appears to be setup correctly, but not sure. It was
>>> setup by the 'real' admin.
>>>
>>> MyDocs > Properties: Target H:\MyDocs (isn't this actually removing
>>> from local?)
>>
>> Not removed. It's just redirected.
>>>
>>> Enable Offline Files is disabled.
>>>
>>> Shouldn't the Target be set to the local C Drive and the Enable
>>> Offline be checked?
>>
>> No - you couldn't do that. If it's local there's nothing to make
>> offline. ;-)
>> You *could* redirect My Docs as it is....and *then* enable offline
>> files.
>>> Seems like the above example is opposite of what I want, correct?
>>>
>>> thanks
>>
>> I'm not a fan of offline files in general, but especially on desktops
>> connected to the LAN. If this is a laptop, that's one thing - but
>> users in the office should always be working from the server copies
>> of their files. Offline files can cause problems and lost data. If
>> you have both laptop & desktop users set up diferent GPOs and OUs
>> for them so that not everyone has offline files.

"shank" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>I did change target to H: and also enabled Offline files. But I'm not
> understanding how this works. Is the data file saved to the server, then
> copied back to the client? Or saved on the client and copied to the server?
> The reason I ask is I work with MS Access a lot. If it's being saved on the
> server and copied back to the client and I lose connection with it open, I
> see it getting hosed. However, if saved to the client and copied to the
> server, I think it'd be OK.
>
> We have a backup service installed that backs up every 15 minutes on the
> server only. I see pros and cons about storing PST files on client or
> server. I think the best way is to save on the client and copy to the
> server. However, I don't see any great way to sync it every 1/2 hour so we
> get the best restore options. I tried downloading MS Outlook Backup. That's
> just a backup and cannot work with Outlook open. So now I'm using the WinXP
> backup scheduled at 12:01am everyday to backup the entire profile to the
> network. It's looking like profiles are around 15-25GB. Is there a better
> way?
>
> thanks


PST and MS Access files, and other database files do not work with Folder Redirection and Offline files. If the users are desktop (not laptop) users, you can either opt to keep the desktop users out of the redirect policy as Lanwench suggested, and use or share the file from a central location, or if individual databases, meaning a specific user is the only one using that specific database, then keep it local to the desktop.

Shank, I believe we talked about PSTs in another thread, didn't we? It sounds familiar. Storing a PST on the server, especially large ones, consumes quite a bit of bandwidth, and doesn't work with laptop users in and out of the office with a Redirect policy, as I mentioned. Keeping the PST on the laptop can lead to issues, such as lost emails if the drive were to go south, etc. If using Exchange, you can pump the PSTs into their mailboxes, but then if they are that large, it will consume a large portion of an Exchange database/store, and would probably require Ex2003 Enterprise due to the sizes alone, unless you were to use an archiving system that stores it outside of the Exchange database but are referenced through 'stubs' in their mailbox.

Exchange archiving may be something to look into for email if the users require to keep all of their email from day one of starting with the company. I used to work in a pharma, and there are minimal FDA requirements reflecting similar requirements. We used Zantas EAS, but it is pricey. There are others out there.

As for shared MS Access databases, you can leave them on the server, but for laptop users you may be better off with a VPN solution so they can access them when remote. I would suggest a hardware based VPN solution, such as a Cisco ASA5505, or whatever firewall/router/VPN device you already have in place, instead of a Windows solution. They are not that expensive, they are secure, and perform nicely.

--
Ace

This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties or guarantees and
confers no rights.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2003 & 2000, MCSA 2003 & 2000, MCSA Messaging, MCT
Microsoft Certified Trainer
(E-Mail Removed)

For urgent issues, you may want to contact Microsoft PSS directly. Please
check http://support.microsoft.com for regional support phone numbers.

"Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things." - Peter F. Drucker
http://twitter.com/acefekay

Access is a good front end to SQL2005.
Of course, we still use a few Access tables here and there though.

To the above, I'm keeping the PST's on the local. Still backing them up at
night to the server though.

thanks

"Bill Kearney" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) t...
>> As for shared MS Access databases, you can leave them on the server,
>> but for laptop users you may be better off with a VPN solution so they
>> can access them when remote.
>
> Or better yet, use a terminal server session for them, through a VPN if
> you like. That way the data and application never have to work over what
> might be an unreliable network connection. The app can even stay running
> inside the RDP session as a means to guard againt database corruption due
> to lost connections during critical operations.
>
> Then there's the whole "eeew, you're still using Access?" argument...

"shank" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Access is a good front end to SQL2005.
> Of course, we still use a few Access tables here and there though.
>
> To the above, I'm keeping the PST's on the local. Still backing them up at
> night to the server though.
>
> thanks

That's good you are backing up the PSTs.

Cheers!

Ace

shank <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Access is a good front end to SQL2005.
> Of course, we still use a few Access tables here and there though.
>
> To the above, I'm keeping the PST's on the local. Still backing them
> up at night to the server though.

I still say Exchange is the way to go. If you can't justify it in house go
for hosted. See
http://www.exchangefaq.org/faq/Excha...=-BAD/qid/1209
>
> thanks
>
> "Bill Kearney" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) t...
>>> As for shared MS Access databases, you can leave them on the server,
>>> but for laptop users you may be better off with a VPN solution so
>>> they can access them when remote.
>>
>> Or better yet, use a terminal server session for them, through a VPN
>> if you like. That way the data and application never have to work
>> over what might be an unreliable network connection. The app can
>> even stay running inside the RDP session as a means to guard againt
>> database corruption due to lost connections during critical
>> operations. Then there's the whole "eeew, you're still using Access?"
>> argument...

Hosted exchange would be our closest option, but damn, getting a new server
going is nickel-diming us to death. I'm trying to figure out as much as I
can about it to save us some cash. Of course, the toll and learning curve on
me is a bit staggering and a bit annoying. But I figure if I ever get to
retirement, it won't be so bad. :-)
thanks

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
<(E-Mail Removed) hoo.com> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> shank <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> Access is a good front end to SQL2005.
>> Of course, we still use a few Access tables here and there though.
>>
>> To the above, I'm keeping the PST's on the local. Still backing them
>> up at night to the server though.
>
> I still say Exchange is the way to go. If you can't justify it in house go
> for hosted. See
> http://www.exchangefaq.org/faq/Excha...=-BAD/qid/1209
>>
>> thanks
>>
>> "Bill Kearney" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed) t...
>>>> As for shared MS Access databases, you can leave them on the server,
>>>> but for laptop users you may be better off with a VPN solution so
>>>> they can access them when remote.
>>>
>>> Or better yet, use a terminal server session for them, through a VPN
>>> if you like. That way the data and application never have to work
>>> over what might be an unreliable network connection. The app can
>>> even stay running inside the RDP session as a means to guard againt
>>> database corruption due to lost connections during critical
>>> operations. Then there's the whole "eeew, you're still using Access?"
>>> argument...
>
>
>

"shank" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hosted exchange would be our closest option, but damn, getting a new server
> going is nickel-diming us to death. I'm trying to figure out as much as I
> can about it to save us some cash. Of course, the toll and learning curve on
> me is a bit staggering and a bit annoying. But I figure if I ever get to
> retirement, it won't be so bad. :-)
> thanks

Retirement?? Is that word still in the English dictionary????????