Overview of Managing Files and Folders

Your ability to manage files and folders differs depending upon whether the Active Directory directory service is available. Organizations that use Active Directory can use Group Policy settings, Folder Redirection, and Offline Files to help centrally manage files and folders. In network environments that do not use Active Directory, you can achieve some of the same functionality by using other options such as local Group Policy, System Policy, and Windows XP Professional features on client computers.

If you are managing Windows XP Professional client computers in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Active Directory environment, you can use Group Policy to implement IntelliMirror management using Folder Redirection and Offline Files.

Group Policy

Group Policy is the administrator s primary tool for defining and controlling programs, network resources, and the operating system. Using Group Policy, you define a configuration that is subsequently applied on all specified client computers. Group Policy lets you create as many different client configurations as needed for different kinds of users in your organization. For more information about using Group Policy, see Managing Desktops in this book.

Folder Redirection

By using Folder Redirection, you can redirect folders such as My Documents to network servers. Users can then access their files from any network location, and the files can be automatically backed up during routine server backups.

Offline Files and Synchronization Manager

Using Offline Files, you can make redirected user folders available offline, so users can continue working even when they are not connected to the network. Offline Files can also be used to make other files and folders that reside on the network available offline. When users reconnect, updated local copies of files can be synchronized with copies on file servers by using Synchronization Manager.

IntelliMirror

Realizing the full benefit of IntelliMirror components in an Active Directory environment takes careful planning. If your organization has implemented or is planning to implement Active Directory and you want to deploy IntelliMirror, there are many resources available to help with planning and implementation. For more information about implementing data management technologies on a Windows 2000 Server network see the Deployment Planning Guide of the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit and the Change and Configuration Management Deployment Guide link on the Web Resources page at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources