[gptalk] Re: Offline Files for redirected folders sync issues
- From: "Darren Mar-Elia" <darren@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:30:53 -0700
Yes, I agree that its less than perfect (Understatement). Supposedly Vista
makes this better-not sure if that's an option for you. I haven't put it
through real-world testing yet though. I know that when I did travel a lot
and used Offline files on XP, I had the same issues, and outside of tuning
down slow link detection, was never really able to get it to work
seamlessly. It was a lot of manual futzing. Dan Holme, who writes on Windows
topics frequently, is in the process of writing an article for the work he
did for the upcoming Olympics to help reduce the complexity of this. I will
ask if I can share some of his article ahead of time as I'm looking at it
right now.
Darren
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Matthew McComas
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 9:50 AM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: Offline Files for redirected folders sync issues
Yeah, I've tried synchtoy.there was no way to centrally configure it so it
had to be done on a per user basis.
The auto-reconnect feature has never really worked for us.Two MS cases and
no go.I mean, it works, but sparingly and not with any consistency. Our
slow link detection is set at zero.
I've really been through the gamut of things that can be done.I just thought
I'd see if anyone had done anything different since the last time I tackled
this.
Also, my boss doesn't seem to get it.he thinks it should be an easy thing to
do ("everyone uses offline files, why can't we?") He's right, a lot of
people use it, just not the way we are trying to. The way were are trying
to use it happens to expose one of Microsoft's greatest weaknesses in their
offline files architecture-namely how to handle synch and caching over slow
WAN vpn link without a local server.
The best solution may be a small local file server used purely for offline
files, and then a robocopy job to synch with the central file server back
here.
Matt McComas
Information Technology
Westdale Asset Management, Ltd.
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Darren Mar-Elia
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 11:37 AM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: Offline Files for redirected folders sync issues
Matt-
The auto-reconnect should happen on its own if the client isn't detecting a
slow-link. I agree that its not perfect however. Maybe you should try
lowering the slow link threshold and see if that helps. As for 3rd party
alternatives, someone on another list recommended this MS utility the other
day, but I've not used it:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/prophoto/synctoy
.mspx
Darren
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Matthew Bilsky
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 6:02 PM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Offline Files for redirected folders sync issues
I am working on setting up a windows domain system, and I am running into a
problem when it comes to syncing redirected folders for use offline.
The system is small, around 6 users, and 2 server 2003 servers. Myself and a
couple other users have laptops, which we use both in the house, and out.
Sometimes,
we have internet outside, and other times not. I have my docs, app data, and
the desktop redirected to my central server through folder redirection
in group policy. I need for my users to have access to their files offline,
so that they can still work even if they don't have internet. The problem i
am having is with the
synchronization. Since all of my users are still using xp, i am stuck with
the outdated, annoying product. The laptops require the users to initiate
the
syncs, by clicking on the computer in the task bar, in order to re-connect
to
the server. They sometimes need to sync multiple times before everything
starts to work again. I need it so that they system auto-syncs whenever it
detects the server, and doesn't interrupt the user if it doesn't, basically,
the computers just work, no user interaction required. Also, certain files
generate sync errors, saying that those type cannot be synced.
A friend of mine is a sys admin, and said that a few years ago he used a 3rd
party tool to replace the windows sync completely, and it worked great. The
only problem is that the name escapes him.
I was hoping that you could either suggest a tool, or a way to fix my
problems.
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