windows server

[richy19]

hi im trying to learn about WS2003 and one of the things i want to know how to do is set up a network like the ones that most schools, unis and work placces use, im sure you have all used this type of system before
its th one where say theres 50 thin clients in the building all conected to the main server and you can log into any pc and it will have your files , preferences and data on that pc as these are stored on the main server
sorry i cant give you a name but i cant remember what its called hence why i cant just google it
thanks everyone

[Jay]

you will need a domain controller and a terminal server as a minimum to do this.

[smargh]

He might be thinking of "roaming profiles" instead.

Roaming profiles are crap when used on a big scale, by the way. 70,000 cookies build up, profiles get corrupted and people log on with temp profiles, servers run out of space for profiles, network links get saturated briefly causing more temp profiles, Outlook saves archive.pst files to local drives and users shout at you... etc etc.

[Jay]

if its roaming profiles you want look into redirected my docs and desktop

[richy19]

il have to ask what they use at the college
but it does sound like roaming profile

[richy19]

hi i asked today and they sed they tryed out roaming profiles at first but they malufnctioned and gave loads of corrupt profiles so they didnt keep it and now they use active directory?
gona read about it as i dont have a cluewhat it is lol

[Jay]

they sound very confused!

I think they are using redirected folders.

[richy19]

well the teacher i asked said they tryed out the roaming profiles but that they sometimes corrupted the profiles, im gwessing cbecause maby a cable got disconected or something at the rong time.
and he said now they use active directory and that our "my documents" are stored on the main server

[smargh]

Yes - roaming profiles do indeed suck. It's not a case of cables getting disconnected, it's a whole bunch of things. Anything that would affect the performance of the network (packet loss, congestion) combine with a lack of user awareness that profiles only update at logoff, so if you delete something, the PC crashes/power cut/other network interruption during logoff, nothing will be saved and your deleted items will reappear, sometimes remaining for eternity until the helpdesk deletes everything from every PC which had the files on and the server.

Very annoying, particularly in a hotdesking office.