Chapter 20 -- Managing Desktop Configurations Using Group Policy and Remote Installation Services

Chapter 20

About This Chapter

Maintaining consistent desktop configurations is one method of reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) of computer systems. Consistent configurations make those systems easier to update, maintain, and troubleshoot. With Active Directory directory services installed, there are a couple of methods (listed below) you can use to maintain desktop configurations:

• Group Policy
• Remote Installation Services (RIS)

Administrators can use Group Policy to manage desktop configurations for groups of computers and users. Group Policy is very flexible and includes options for registry-based policy settings, security settings, application management, scripts, computer startup and shutdown, logon and logoff, and folder redirection. Microsoft Windows 2000 Server includes hundreds of Group Policy settings you can configure.

You can use RIS to set up new client computers remotely without the need to physically visit each client workstation. Specifically, you can install an operating system (OS) on a remote boot-enabled client computer by connecting the computer to the network, starting the client computer, and logging on with a valid user account.

This chapter explains the use of both group policies and RIS.

Before You Begin

As an experienced Windows NT 4.0 professional, you should already have many of the skills needed to manage Active Directories. These include:

• Setting up users and groups
• Securing network resources

To complete this chapter, you must also have

• Installed Windows 2000 Server on a computer (Server01)

  See chapter 8, Installing Microsoft Windows 2000 for more details.

• Configured the computer (Server01) as a domain controller in a domain
• Experience logging on and off Microsoft Windows 2000
• Knowledge about the Active Directory naming conventions
• Obtained the knowledge and skills necessary to set up Microsoft Management Console snap-ins (MMCs)
• Installed Active Directory using the exercises in Chapter 17, "Installing and Configuring Active Directory Directory Services"
• Completed the exercises and obtained the knowledge and skills covered in Chapter 19 "Managing Active Directory Directory Services Components"