Managing Roaming User Profiles | Provisioning Services 7.15 (2024)

A Roaming User Profile is a user profile that resides on a network share. It consists of files and folders containing the user’s personal settings and documents. When a user logs on to a target device system in the domain, Windows copies the respective profile from a network share to the target device’s disk. When the user logs off, Windows synchronizes the user profile on the target device’s hard disk with the user profile on the network share.

For a diskless target device, its disk is actually a vDisk residing in shared storage. Consequently, the profile returns back to the shared storage containing the vDisk. Since the persistent user data always resides on shared storage, Windows does not need to download the profile. This saves time, network bandwidth, and file cache. Since some of the files included in the profile can grow very large, the savings can be significant.

Using Roaming User Profiles with diskless systems involves configuring relevant policies and using Folder Redirection.

Although unrelated to Roaming User Profiles, the Offline Folders feature affects diskless systems similarly. Disabling this feature avoids the same effects.

On the domain controller, use the Microsoft Management Console with the Group Policy snap-in to configure the domain policies for the following objects.

Configuring Roaming User Profiles

Configuring Roaming User Profiles for diskless systems enables roaming without having to download potentially large files in the profile.

On the domain controller, use the Microsoft Management Console with the Group Policy snap-in to configure the domain policies for the following objects.

To prevent the accumulation of Roaming User Profiles on a vDisk:

Object Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\User profiles
Policy Delete cached copies of roaming profiles.
Setting Enabled

To exclude directories with potentially large files from download:

Object User Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon/Logoff
Policy Exclude directories in roaming profile
Setting Enabled
Properties Prevent the following directories from roaming with the profile: Application Data; Desktop; My Documents; Start Menu.

Configuring Folder Redirection with Roaming User Profiles

Using Folder Redirection with Roaming User Profiles and diskless systems retains the availability of user documents.

On the domain controller, use the Microsoft Management Console with the Group Policy snap-in to configure the domain policies for the objects that follow.

To configure folder redirection:

  1. Create a network share to contain the redirected user folders:

    \\ServerName\ShareName

  2. Give Full Control permission to everyone for the network share.

  3. Enable Folder Redirection.

    Object Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Group Policy
    Policy Folder Redirection policy processing
    Setting Enabled
  4. Redirect the Application Data folder.

    Object User Configuration\Windows Settings\Folder Redirection\Application Data
    Properties Basic or Advanced. Target folder location: \ServerName\ShareName\%username%\Application Data
  5. Redirect the Desktop folder.

    Object User Configuration\Windows Settings\Folder Redirection\Desktop
    Properties Basic or Advanced. Target folder location: \ServerName\ShareName\%username%\Desktop
  6. Redirect the My Documents folder.

    Object User Configuration\Windows Settings\Folder Redirection\My Documents
    Properties Basic or Advanced. Target folder location: \ServerName\ShareName\%username%\My Documents
  7. Redirect the Start Menu folder.

    Object User Configuration\Windows Settings\Folder Redirection\Start Menu
    Properties Basic or Advanced. Target folder location: \ServerName\ShareName\%username%\Start Menu

Disabling Offline Folders

Disabling Offline Folders avoids the unnecessary caching of files on diskless systems with network shares.

On the domain controller, use the Microsoft Management Console with the Group Policy snap-in to configure the domain policies for the object that follows.

To disable offline folders:

Object User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Offline Files
Policy Disable user configuration of Offline Files
Setting Enabled
Policy Synchronize all Offline Files before logging off.
Setting Disabled
Policy Prevent user of Offline Files folder.
Setting Enabled
Managing Roaming User Profiles | Provisioning Services 7.15 (2024)

FAQs

Managing Roaming User Profiles | Provisioning Services 7.15? ›

The main reason roaming profiles are helpful is because they help people who need to use different workstations have a consistent environment. There's no learning curve for a new desktop because the user interface is the same.

Are roaming profiles a good idea? ›

The main reason roaming profiles are helpful is because they help people who need to use different workstations have a consistent environment. There's no learning curve for a new desktop because the user interface is the same.

What are the problems with roaming profiles? ›

Yes, roaming profiles can cause long user loading times, especially if the profiles are large. This is because Windows has to download the profile from the server every time the user logs in.

What is the purpose of roaming profiles? ›

A roaming profile is stored on a central server which can be accessed from all domain computers. This allows you to have the same environment settings on every machine to which you log on. Your roaming profile is copied to a machine when you log on, and the synchronized back to the server when you log off.

How do you tell if roaming profiles are being used? ›

To confirm that the user profile is roaming, open Control Panel, select System and Security, select System, select Advanced System Settings, select Settings in the User Profiles section and then look for Roaming in the Type column.

What are the disadvantages of roaming? ›

One of the biggest downsides of data roaming is the potential for high costs. Roaming charges can be significantly more expensive than your regular data usage fees. This includes charges for text messages, calls, and data usage.

Can you delete roaming profiles? ›

To delete a Roaming user profile:

You cannot delete the current user profile. To delete it, you must first open a different user profile. Click Delete.

What is the best alternative to roaming profiles? ›

Should the objective be to maintain file synchronization across different devices for users, options like OneDrive for cloud storage or SyncThing could be considered. But in my opinion, FSLogix Profile Containers stand out as the preferred solution for enhanced manageability and maintenance.

Why should you turn off roaming? ›

Keep roaming off when you don't need access to maps, email, apps, or messages so you won't be charged. You can switch roaming back on when you need these services. Turn off auto updates. Make sure your apps are only updating while connected to Wi-Fi in order to avoid roaming charges for services that aren't critical.

Should I delete roaming? ›

You probably don't want to delete anything with appdata/roaming because it might break the sites that you are using.

Can roaming profile be mandatory? ›

A mandatory user profile is a special type of pre-configured roaming user profile that administrators can use to specify settings for users. With mandatory user profiles, a user can modify his or her desktop, but the changes are not saved when the user logs off.

How do I know if a user is roaming? ›

1 Answer. If you have access to the user's machine, go to System Properties -> Advanced -> User profiles; there you will see if it's a local or roaming profile.

How do I prevent roaming profiles? ›

  1. Navigate to: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\User Profiles.
  2. Enable “Only allow local user profiles” and “Prevent Roaming Profile Changes from propagating to the server” to disable roaming profiles on this machine or GPO.
Jan 16, 2023

How do I know if roaming is on or off? ›

If roaming is activated, you'll receive a message to let you know that you can make calls when you're abroad. If it's not activated, a message will appear saying you can't make calls when you're abroad.

What happens when roaming is turned on? ›

Data Roaming permits internet access over a cellular data network if you're in a region not covered by your carrier's network. Carriers might include international roaming on select data plans without additional fees. Contact your carrier for details.

What is the difference between folder redirection and roaming profiles? ›

Roaming User Profiles is used to redirect a user profile to a network location, whereas Folder Redirection enables users and administrators to redirect the path of a known folder to a new location, manually or by using Group Policy. So, the latter may allow for more granularity.

Are roaming profiles deprecated? ›

While Roaming Profiles are still supported in Windows 10 for some reason, they are considered “Not-the-best practices” by significant lot of IT pros, and Microsoft has publicly announced that Roaming Profiles will be deprecated in the future.

What is the difference between offline files and roaming profiles? ›

Folder Redirection and Offline Files are used together to redirect the path of local folders, such as the Documents folder, to a network location, while caching the contents locally for increased speed and availability. Roaming User Profiles is used to redirect a user profile to a network location.

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