<title>Desktop Profile Management</title>
+<sect1>
+<title>Features and Benefits</title>
+
+<para>
+Roaming Profiles are feared by some, hated by a few, loved by many, and a Godsend for
+some administrators.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+Roaming Profiles allow an administrator to make available a consistent user desktop
+as the user moves from one machine to another. This chapter provides much information
+regarding how to configure and manage Roaming Profiles.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+While Roaming Profiles might sound like nirvana to some, they are a real and tangible
+problem to others. In particular, users of mobile computing tools, where often there may not
+be a sustained network connection, are often better served by purely Local Profiles.
+This chapter provides information to help the Samba administrator to deal with those
+situations also.
+</para>
+
+</sect1>
+
<sect1>
<title>Roaming Profiles</title>
<title>NT4/200x User Profiles</title>
<para>
-To support Windowns NT4/200x clients, in the [global] section of smb.conf set the
+To support Windows NT4/200x clients, in the [global] section of smb.conf set the
following (for example):
</para>
</para>
<para>
-The default for this option is \\%N\%U\profile, namely \\sambaserver\username\profile.
-The \\N%\%U service is created automatically by the [homes] service. If you are using
+The default for this option is <filename>\\%N\%U\profile</filename>,
+namely <filename>\\sambaserver\username\profile</filename>.
+The <filename>\\N%\%U</filename> service is created automatically by the [homes] service. If you are using
a samba server for the profiles, you _must_ make the share specified in the logon path
-browseable. Please refer to the man page for smb.conf in respect of the different
-symantics of %L and %N, as well as %U and %u.
+browseable. Please refer to the man page for &smb.conf; in respect of the different
+semantics of %L and %N, as well as %U and %u.
</para>
<note>
<para>
MS Windows NT/2K clients at times do not disconnect a connection to a server
-between logons. It is recommended to NOT use the <command>homes</command>
+between logons. It is recommended to NOT use the <parameter>homes</parameter>
meta-service name as part of the profile share path.
</para>
</note>
<title>Windows 9x / Me User Profiles</title>
<para>
-To support Windows 9x / Me clients, you must use the "logon home" parameter. Samba has
+ To support Windows 9x / Me clients, you must use the <parameter>logon home</parameter> parameter. Samba has
now been fixed so that <userinput>net use /home</userinput> now works as well, and it, too, relies
on the <command>logon home</command> parameter.
</para>
<para>
By using the logon home parameter, you are restricted to putting Win9x / Me
profiles in the user's home directory. But wait! There is a trick you
-can use. If you set the following in the <command>[global]</command> section of your &smb.conf; file:
+can use. If you set the following in the <parameter>[global]</parameter> section of your &smb.conf; file:
</para>
<para><programlisting>
logon home = \\%L\%U\.profiles
Not only that, but <userinput>net use /home</userinput> will also work, because of a feature in
Windows 9x / Me. It removes any directory stuff off the end of the home directory area
and only uses the server and share portion. That is, it looks like you
-specified \\%L\%U for <command>logon home</command>.
+specified <filename>\\%L\%U</filename> for <parameter>logon home</parameter>.
</para>
</sect3>
<para>
You can support profiles for both Win9X and WinNT clients by setting both the
-<command>logon home</command> and <command>logon path</command> parameters. For example:
+<parameter>logon home</parameter> and <parameter>logon path</parameter> parameters. For example:
</para>
<para><programlisting>
<title>Disabling Roaming Profile Support</title>
<para>
-A question often asked is "How may I enforce use of local profiles?" or
-"How do I disable Roaming Profiles?"
+ A question often asked is <quote>How may I enforce use of local profiles?</quote> or
+ <quote>How do I disable Roaming Profiles?</quote>
</para>
<para>
There are three ways of doing this:
</para>
-<itemizedlist>
- <listitem><para>
- <command>In smb.conf:</command> affect the following settings and ALL clients
- will be forced to use a local profile:
- <programlisting>
- logon home =
- logon path =
- </programlisting></para></listitem>
-
- <listitem><para>
- <command>MS Windows Registry:</command> by using the Microsoft Management Console
- gpedit.msc to instruct your MS Windows XP machine to use only a local profile. This
- of course modifies registry settings. The full path to the option is:
+<variablelist>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>In &smb.conf;</term>
+ <listitem><para>
+ Affect the following settings and ALL clients
+ will be forced to use a local profile:
+ <programlisting>
+ logon home =
+ logon path =
+ </programlisting>
+ </para></listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>MS Windows Registry:</term>
+ <listitem><para>
+ By using the Microsoft Management Console gpedit.msc to instruct your MS Windows XP machine to use only a local profile. This of course modifies registry settings. The full path to the option is:
+ <!-- FIXME: Diagram for this ? -->
<programlisting>
Local Computer Policy\
Computer Configuration\
User Profiles\
Disable: Only Allow Local User Profiles
- Disable: Prevent Roaming Profile Change from Propogating to the Server
+ Disable: Prevent Roaming Profile Change from Propagating to the Server
</programlisting>
- </para>
- </listitem>
+ </para> </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
- <listitem><para>
- <command>Change of Profile Type:</command> From the start menu right click on the
- MY Computer icon, select <emphasis>Properties</emphasis>, click on the "<emphasis>User Profiles</emphasis>
- tab, select the profile you wish to change from Roaming type to Local, click <emphasis>Change Type</emphasis>.
- </para></listitem>
-</itemizedlist>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Change of Profile Type:</term>
+ <listitem><para>
+ From the start menu right click on the
+ My Computer icon, select <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem>, click on the <guilabel>User Profiles</guilabel>
+ tab, select the profile you wish to change from Roaming type to Local, click <guibutton>Change Type</guibutton>.
+ </para></listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+</variablelist>
<para>
Consult the MS Windows registry guide for your particular MS Windows version for more
<para>
When a user first logs in on Windows 9X, the file user.DAT is created,
-as are folders "Start Menu", "Desktop", "Programs" and "Nethood".
+as are folders <filename>Start Menu</filename>, <filename>Desktop</filename>,
+<filename>Programs</filename> and <filename>Nethood</filename>.
These directories and their contents will be merged with the local
-versions stored in c:\windows\profiles\username on subsequent logins,
-taking the most recent from each. You will need to use the [global]
-options "preserve case = yes", "short preserve case = yes" and
-"case sensitive = no" in order to maintain capital letters in shortcuts
+versions stored in <filename>c:\windows\profiles\username</filename> on subsequent logins,
+taking the most recent from each. You will need to use the <parameter>[global]</parameter>
+options <parameter>preserve case = yes</parameter>, <parameter>short preserve case = yes</parameter> and
+<parameter>case sensitive = no</parameter> in order to maintain capital letters in shortcuts
in any of the profile folders.
</para>
<orderedlist>
<listitem>
<para>
- On the Windows 9x / Me machine, go to Control Panel -> Passwords and
- select the User Profiles tab. Select the required level of
- roaming preferences. Press OK, but do _not_ allow the computer
+ On the Windows 9x / Me machine, go to <guimenu>Control Panel</guimenu> -> <guimenuitem>Passwords</guimenuitem> and
+ select the <guilabel>User Profiles</guilabel> tab. Select the required level of
+ roaming preferences. Press <guibutton>OK</guibutton>, but do _not_ allow the computer
to reboot.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
- On the Windows 9x / Me machine, go to Control Panel -> Network ->
- Client for Microsoft Networks -> Preferences. Select 'Log on to
- NT Domain'. Then, ensure that the Primary Logon is 'Client for
- Microsoft Networks'. Press OK, and this time allow the computer
+ On the Windows 9x / Me machine, go to <guimenu>Control Panel</guimenu> -> <guimenuitem>Network</guimenuitem> ->
+ <guimenuitem>Client for Microsoft Networks</guimenuitem> -> <guilabel>Preferences</guilabel>. Select <guilabel>Log on to
+ NT Domain</guilabel>. Then, ensure that the Primary Logon is <guilabel>Client for
+ Microsoft Networks</guilabel>. Press <guibutton>OK</guibutton>, and this time allow the computer
to reboot.
</para>
</listitem>
<para>
Once the user has been successfully validated, the Windows 9x / Me machine
-will inform you that 'The user has not logged on before' and asks you
-if you wish to save the user's preferences? Select 'yes'.
+will inform you that <computeroutput>The user has not logged on before' and asks you
+ if you wish to save the user's preferences?</computeroutput> Select <guibutton>yes</guibutton>.
</para>
<para>
Once the Windows 9x / Me client comes up with the desktop, you should be able
-to examine the contents of the directory specified in the "logon path"
-on the samba server and verify that the "Desktop", "Start Menu",
-"Programs" and "Nethood" folders have been created.
+to examine the contents of the directory specified in the <parameter>logon path</parameter>
+on the samba server and verify that the <filename>Desktop</filename>, <filename>Start Menu</filename>,
+<filename>Programs</filename> and <filename>Nethood</filename> folders have been created.
</para>
<para>
<listitem>
<para>
instead of logging in under the [user, password, domain] dialog,
- press escape.
+ press <guibutton>escape</guibutton>.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
- run the regedit.exe program, and look in:
+ run the <command>regedit.exe</command> program, and look in:
</para>
- <para>
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
+ <filename>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProfileList</filename>
</para>
<para>
you will find an entry, for each user, of ProfilePath. Note the
- contents of this key (likely to be c:\windows\profiles\username),
+ contents of this key (likely to be <filename>c:\windows\profiles\username</filename>),
then delete the key ProfilePath for the required user.
+ </para>
- [Exit the registry editor].
-
- </para>
+ <para>[Exit the registry editor].</para>
</listitem>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- <emphasis>WARNING</emphasis> - before deleting the contents of the
+ <warning>
+ Before deleting the contents of the
directory listed in the ProfilePath (this is likely to be
<filename>c:\windows\profiles\username)</filename>, ask them if they
have any important files stored on their desktop or in their start menu.
system file) user.DAT in their profile directory, as well as the
local "desktop", "nethood", "start menu" and "programs" folders.
</para>
- </listitem>
+ </warning>
<listitem>
<para>
- search for the user's .PWL password-caching file in the c:\windows
+ search for the user's .PWL password-caching file in the <filename>c:\windows</filename>
directory, and delete it.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
- check the contents of the profile path (see "logon path" described
- above), and delete the user.DAT or user.MAN file for the user,
+ check the contents of the profile path (see <parameter>logon path</parameter> described
+ above), and delete the <filename>user.DAT</filename> or <filename>user.MAN</filename> file for the user,
making a backup if required.
</para>
</listitem>
<para>
If all else fails, increase samba's debug log levels to between 3 and 10,
-and / or run a packet trace program such as ethereal or netmon.exe, and
+and / or run a packet trace program such as ethereal or <command>netmon.exe</command>, and
look for error messages.
</para>
<para>
When a user first logs in to a Windows NT Workstation, the profile
NTuser.DAT is created. The profile location can be now specified
-through the "logon path" parameter.
+through the <parameter>logon path</parameter> parameter.
</para>
<para>
There is a parameter that is now available for use with NT Profiles:
-"logon drive". This should be set to <filename>H:</filename> or any other drive, and
+<parameter>logon drive</parameter>. This should be set to <filename>H:</filename> or any other drive, and
should be used in conjunction with the new "logon home" parameter.
</para>
<para>
In the profile directory, Windows NT4 creates more folders than Windows 9x / Me.
-It creates "Application Data" and others, as well as "Desktop", "Nethood",
-"Start Menu" and "Programs". The profile itself is stored in a file
-NTuser.DAT. Nothing appears to be stored in the .PDS directory, and
+It creates <filename>Application Data</filename> and others, as well as <filename>Desktop</filename>, <filename>Nethood</filename>,
+<filename>Start Menu</filename> and <filename>Programs</filename>. The profile itself is stored in a file
+<filename>NTuser.DAT</filename>. Nothing appears to be stored in the .PDS directory, and
its purpose is currently unknown.
</para>
<para>
-You can use the System Control Panel to copy a local profile onto
+You can use the <application>System Control Panel</application> to copy a local profile onto
a samba server (see NT Help on profiles: it is also capable of firing
-up the correct location in the System Control Panel for you). The
-NT Help file also mentions that renaming NTuser.DAT to NTuser.MAN
+up the correct location in the <application>System Control Panel</application> for you). The
+NT Help file also mentions that renaming <filename>NTuser.DAT</filename> to <filename>NTuser.MAN</filename>
turns a profile into a mandatory one.
</para>
<para>
The case of the profile is significant. The file must be called
-NTuser.DAT or, for a mandatory profile, NTuser.MAN.
+<filename>NTuser.DAT</filename> or, for a mandatory profile, <filename>NTuser.MAN</filename>.
</para>
</sect3>
profile on the MS Windows workstation as follows:
</para>
-<itemizedlist>
- Log on as the LOCAL workstation administrator.
- </para></listitem>
+<procedure>
+ Log on as the <emphasis>LOCAL</emphasis> workstation administrator.
+ </para></step>
- Right click on the 'My Computer' Icon, select 'Properties'
- </para></listitem>
+ Right click on the <guiicon>My Computer</guiicon> Icon, select <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem>
+ </para></step>
- Click on the 'User Profiles' tab
- </para></listitem>
+ Click on the <guilabel>User Profiles</guilabel> tab
+ </para></step>
Select the profile you wish to convert (click on it once)
- </para></listitem>
+ </para></step>
- Click on the button 'Copy To'
- </para></listitem>
+ Click on the button <guibutton>Copy To</guibutton>
+ </para></step>
- In the "Permitted to use" box, click on the 'Change' button.
- </para></listitem>
+ In the <guilabel>Permitted to use</guilabel> box, click on the <guibutton>Change</guibutton> button.
+ </para></step>
Click on the 'Look in" area that lists the machine name, when you click
here it will open up a selection box. Click on the domain to which the
profile must be accessible.
</para>
<note><para>You will need to log on if a logon box opens up. Eg: In the connect
- as: MIDEARTH\root, password: mypassword.</para></note>
- </listitem>
+ as: <replaceable>MIDEARTH</replaceable>\root, password: <replaceable>mypassword</replaceable>.</para></note>
+ </step>
To make the profile capable of being used by anyone select 'Everyone'
- </para></listitem>
+ </para></step>
- Click OK. The Selection box will close.
- </para></listitem>
+ Click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>. The Selection box will close.
+ </para></step>
- Now click on the 'Ok' button to create the profile in the path you
+ Now click on the <guibutton>Ok</guibutton> button to create the profile in the path you
nominated.
- </para></listitem>
-</itemizedlist>
+ </para></step>
+</procedure>
<para>
-Done. You now have a profile that can be editted using the samba-3.0.0
-<filename>profiles</filename> tool.
+Done. You now have a profile that can be edited using the samba-3.0.0
+<command>profiles</command> tool.
</para>
<note>
<para>
-Under NT/2K the use of mandotory profiles forces the use of MS Exchange
+Under NT/2K the use of mandatory profiles forces the use of MS Exchange
storage of mail data. That keeps desktop profiles usable.
</para>
</note>
<note>
-<itemizedlist>
+<procedure>
This is a security check new to Windows XP (or maybe only
Windows XP service pack 1). It can be disabled via a group policy in
Active Directory. The policy is:</para>
-<para>"Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\User
-Profiles\Do not check for user ownership of Roaming Profile Folders"</para>
+<para><filename>Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\User
+Profiles\Do not check for user ownership of Roaming Profile Folders</filename></para>
-<para>...and it should be set to "Enabled".
+<para>...and it should be set to <constant>Enabled</constant>.
Does the new version of samba have an Active Directory analogue? If so,
then you may be able to set the policy through this.
</para>
same way as a domain group policy):
</para>
-</listitem>
+</step>
On the XP workstation log in with an Administrator account.
-</para></listitem>
-
- <listitem><para>Click: "Start", "Run"</para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>Type: "mmc"</para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>Click: "OK"</para></listitem>
-
- <listitem><para>A Microsoft Management Console should appear.</para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>Click: File, "Add/Remove Snap-in...", "Add"</para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>Double-Click: "Group Policy"</para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>Click: "Finish", "Close"</para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>Click: "OK"</para></listitem>
-
- <listitem><para>In the "Console Root" window:</para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>Expand: "Local Computer Policy", "Computer Configuration",</para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>"Administrative Templates", "System", "User Profiles"</para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>Double-Click: "Do not check for user ownership of Roaming Profile</para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>Folders"</para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>Select: "Enabled"</para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>Click: OK"</para></listitem>
-
- <listitem><para>Close the whole console. You do not need to save the settings (this
+</para></step>
+
+ <step><para>Click: <guimenu>Start</guimenu>, <guimenuitem>Run</guimenuitem></para></step>
+ <step><para>Type: <userinput>mmc</userinput></para></step>
+ <step><para>Click: <guibutton>OK</guibutton></para></step>
+
+ <step><para>A Microsoft Management Console should appear.</para></step>
+ <step><para>Click: <guimenu>File</guimenu>, <guimenuitem>Add/Remove Snap-in...</guimenuitem>, <guimenuitem>Add</guimenuitem></para></step>
+ <step><para>Double-Click: <guiicon>Group Policy</guiicon></para></step>
+ <step><para>Click: <guibutton>Finish</guibutton>, <guibutton>Close</guibutton></para></step>
+ <step><para>Click: <guibutton>OK</guibutton></para></step>
+
+ <step><para>In the "Console Root" window:</para></step>
+ <step><para>Expand: <guiicon>Local Computer Policy</guiicon>, <guiicon>Computer Configuration</guiicon>,
+ <guiicon>Administrative Templates</guiicon>, <guiicon>System</guiicon>, <guiicon>User Profiles</guiicon></para></step>
+ <step><para>Double-Click: <guilabel>Do not check for user ownership of Roaming Profile Folders</guilabel></para></step>
+ <step><para>Select: <guilabel>Enabled</guilabel></para></step>
+ <step><para>Click: <guibutton>OK</guibutton></para></step>
+
+ <step><para>Close the whole console. You do not need to save the settings (this
refers to the console settings rather than the policies you have
- changed).</para></listitem>
+ changed).</para></step>
- <listitem><para>Reboot</para></listitem>
-</itemizedlist>
+ <step><para>Reboot</para></step>
+</procedure>
</note>
</sect3>
</sect2>
<para>
If you then want to share the same Start Menu / Desktop with W9x/Me, you will
need to specify a common location for the profiles. The smb.conf parameters
-that need to be common are <emphasis>logon path</emphasis> and
-<emphasis>logon home</emphasis>.
+that need to be common are <parameter>logon path</parameter> and
+<parameter>logon home</parameter>.
</para>
<para>
-If you have this set up correctly, you will find separate user.DAT and
-NTuser.DAT files in the same profile directory.
+If you have this set up correctly, you will find separate <filename>user.DAT</filename> and
+<filename>NTuser.DAT</filename> files in the same profile directory.
</para>
</sect2>
Here is a quick guide:
</para>
-<itemizedlist>
+<procedure>
-On your NT4 Domain Controller, right click on 'My Computer', then
-select the tab labelled 'User Profiles'.
-</para></listitem>
+On your NT4 Domain Controller, right click on <guiicon>My Computer</guiicon>, then
+select the tab labelled <guilabel>User Profiles</guilabel>.
+</para></step>
Select a user profile you want to migrate and click on it.
</para>
-<note><para>I am using the term "migrate" lossely. You can copy a profile to
+<note><para>I am using the term "migrate" loosely. You can copy a profile to
create a group profile. You can give the user 'Everyone' rights to the
profile you copy this to. That is what you need to do, since your samba
domain is not a member of a trust relationship with your NT4 PDC.</para></note>
-</listitem>
+</step>
- <listitem><para>Click the 'Copy To' button.</para></listitem>
+<step><para>Click the <guibutton>Copy To</guibutton> button.</para></step>
- <listitem><para>In the box labelled 'Copy Profile to' add your new path, eg:
- <filename>c:\temp\foobar</filename></para></listitem>
+ <step><para>In the box labelled <guilabel>Copy Profile to</guilabel> add your new path, eg:
+ <filename>c:\temp\foobar</filename></para></step>
- <listitem><para>Click on the button labelled 'Change' in the "Permitted to use" box.</para></listitem>
+ <step><para>Click on the button <guibutton>Change</guibutton> in the <guilabel>Permitted to use</guilabel> box.</para></step>
- <listitem><para>Click on the group 'Everyone' and then click OK. This closes the
- 'chose user' box.</para></listitem>
+ <step><para>Click on the group 'Everyone' and then click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>. This closes the
+ 'choose user' box.</para></step>
- <listitem><para>Now click OK.</para></listitem>
-</itemizedlist>
+ <step><para>Now click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>.</para></step>
+</procedure>
<para>
Follow the above for every profile you need to migrate.
<para>
Windows NT 4.0 stores the local profile information in the registry under
the following key:
-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
+<filename>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList</filename>
</para>
<para>
</para>
<para>
-For MS Windows 9x / Me it is the User.DAT file that must be renamed to User.MAN to
+For MS Windows 9x / Me it is the <filename>User.DAT</filename> file that must be renamed to <filename>User.MAN</filename> to
affect a mandatory profile.
</para>
<title>Creating/Managing Group Profiles</title>
<para>
-Most organisations are arranged into departments. There is a nice benenfit in
+Most organisations are arranged into departments. There is a nice benefit in
this fact since usually most users in a department will require the same desktop
applications and the same desktop layout. MS Windows NT4/200x/XP will allow the
use of Group Profiles. A Group Profile is a profile that is created firstly using
</para>
<para>
-The next step is rather important. PLEASE NOTE: Instead of assigning a group profile
+The next step is rather important. <emphasis>Please note:</emphasis> Instead of assigning a group profile
to users (ie: Using User Manager) on a "per user" basis, the group itself is assigned
the now modified profile.
</para>
<title>MS Windows 9x/Me</title>
<para>
-To enable default per use profiles in Windows 9x / Me you can either use the Windows 98 System
-Policy Editor or change the registry directly.
+To enable default per use profiles in Windows 9x / Me you can either use the <application>Windows 98 System
+Policy Editor</application> or change the registry directly.
</para>
<para>
-To enable default per user profiles in Windows 9x / Me, launch the System Policy Editor, then
-select File -> Open Registry, then click on the Local Computer icon, click on Windows 98 System,
-select User Profiles, click on the enable box. Do not forget to save the registry changes.
+To enable default per user profiles in Windows 9x / Me, launch the <application>System Policy Editor</application>, then
+select <guimenu>File</guimenu> -> <guimenuitem>Open Registry</guimenuitem>, then click on the
+<guiicon>Local Computer</guiicon> icon, click on <guilabel>Windows 98 System</guilabel>,
+select <guilabel>User Profiles</guilabel>, click on the enable box. Do not forget to save the registry changes.
</para>
<para>
-To modify the registry directly, launch the Registry Editor (regedit.exe), select the hive
+To modify the registry directly, launch the <application>Registry Editor</application> (<command>regedit.exe</command>), select the hive
<filename>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Network\Logon</filename>. Now add a DWORD type key with the name
"User Profiles", to enable user profiles set the value to 1, to disable user profiles set it to 0.
</para>
On MS Windows NT4 the default user profile is obtained from the location
<filename>%SystemRoot%\Profiles</filename> which in a default installation will translate to
<filename>C:\WinNT\Profiles</filename>. Under this directory on a clean install there will be
-three (3) directories: <filename>Administrator, All Users, Default User</filename>.
+three (3) directories: <filename>Administrator</filename>, <filename>All Users</filename>, <filename>Default User</filename>.
</para>
<para>
the following steps are followed in respect of profile handling:
</para>
-<orderedlist>
- <listitem>
+<procedure>
+ <step>
<para>
The users' account information which is obtained during the logon process contains
the location of the users' desktop profile. The profile path may be local to the
settings in the <filename>All Users</filename> profile in the <filename>%SystemRoot%\Profiles</filename>
location.
</para>
- </listitem>
+ </step>
- <listitem>
+ <step>
<para>
If the user account has a profile path, but at it's location a profile does not exist,
then a new profile is created in the <filename>%SystemRoot%\Profiles\%USERNAME%</filename>
directory from reading the <filename>Default User</filename> profile.
</para>
- </listitem>
+ </step>
- <listitem>
+ <step>
<para>
If the NETLOGON share on the authenticating server (logon server) contains a policy file
(<filename>NTConfig.POL</filename>) then it's contents are applied to the <filename>NTUser.DAT</filename>
which is applied to the <filename>HKEY_CURRENT_USER</filename> part of the registry.
</para>
- </listitem>
+ </step>
- <listitem>
+ <step>
<para>
When the user logs out, if the profile is set to be a roaming profile it will be written
out to the location of the profile. The <filename>NTuser.DAT</filename> file is then
re-created from the contents of the <filename>HKEY_CURRENT_USER</filename> contents.
Thus, should there not exist in the NETLOGON share an <filename>NTConfig.POL</filename> at the
- next logon, the effect of the provious <filename>NTConfig.POL</filename> will still be held
+ next logon, the effect of the previous <filename>NTConfig.POL</filename> will still be held
in the profile. The effect of this is known as <emphasis>tatooing</emphasis>.
</para>
- </listitem>
-</orderedlist>
+ </step>
+</procedure>
<para>
MS Windows NT4 profiles may be <emphasis>Local</emphasis> or <emphasis>Roaming</emphasis>. A Local profile
</para>
<para>
-<programlisting>
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- \Software
- \Microsoft
- \Windows
- \CurrentVersion
- \Explorer
- \User Shell Folders\
-</programlisting>
+<filename>HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\</filename>
</para>
<para>
The above hive key contains a list of automatically managed folders. The default entries are:
</para>
- <para>
- <programlisting>
- Name Default Value
- -------------- -----------------------------------------
- AppData %USERPROFILE%\Application Data
- Desktop %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
- Favorites %USERPROFILE%\Favorites
- NetHood %USERPROFILE%\NetHood
- PrintHood %USERPROFILE%\PrintHood
- Programs %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs
- Recent %USERPROFILE%\Recent
- SendTo %USERPROFILE%\SendTo
- Start Menu %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu
- Startup %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
- </programlisting>
- </para>
+<para>
+<table frame="all">
+ <title>User Shell Folder registry keys default values</title>
+ <tgroup cols="2">
+ <thead>
+ <row><entry>Name</entry><entry>Default Value</entry></row>
+ </thead>
+ <tbody>
+ <row><entry>AppData</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Application Data</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Desktop</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Desktop</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Favorites</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Favorites</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>NetHood</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\NetHood</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>PrintHood</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\PrintHood</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Programs</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Recent</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Recent</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>SendTo</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\SendTo</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Start Menu </entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Startup</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup</entry></row>
+ </tbody>
+ </tgroup>
+</table>
+</para>
<para>
The registry key that contains the location of the default profile settings is:
+</para>
-<programlisting>
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- \SOFTWARE
- \Microsoft
- \Windows
- \CurrentVersion
- \Explorer
- \User Shell Folders
-</programlisting>
+<para>
+<filename>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders</filename>
+</para>
+<para>
The default entries are:
-<programlisting>
- Common Desktop %SystemRoot%\Profiles\All Users\Desktop
- Common Programs %SystemRoot%\Profiles\All Users\Programs
- Common Start Menu %SystemRoot%\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu
- Common Startup %SystemRoot%\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Progams\Startup
-</programlisting>
+<table frame="all">
+ <title>Defaults of profile settings registry keys</title>
+ <tgroup cols="2">
+ <tbody>
+ <row><entry>Common Desktop</entry><entry>%SystemRoot%\Profiles\All Users\Desktop</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Common Programs</entry><entry>%SystemRoot%\Profiles\All Users\Programs</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Common Start Menu</entry><entry>%SystemRoot%\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Common Startup</entry><entry>%SystemRoot%\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup</entry></row>
+ </tbody>
+ </tgroup>
+</table>
</para>
</sect2>
<note>
<para>
- This path translates, in Samba parlance, to the smb.conf [NETLOGON] share. The directory
+ This path translates, in Samba parlance, to the &smb.conf; <parameter>[NETLOGON]</parameter> share. The directory
should be created at the root of this share and must be called <filename>Default Profile</filename>.
</para>
</note>
</para>
<para>
-On loging out, the users' desktop profile will be stored to the location specified in the registry
+On logging out, the users' desktop profile will be stored to the location specified in the registry
settings that pertain to the user. If no specific policies have been created, or passed to the client
during the login process (as Samba does automatically), then the user's profile will be written to
the local machine only under the path <filename>C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%</filename>.
</para>
<para>
-<programlisting>
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- \Software
- \Microsoft
- \Windows
- \CurrentVersion
- \Explorer
- \User Shell Folders\
-</programlisting>
+<filename>HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\</filename>
</para>
<para>
The above hive key contains a list of automatically managed folders. The default entries are:
</para>
- <para>
- <programlisting>
- Name Default Value
- -------------- -----------------------------------------
- AppData %USERPROFILE%\Application Data
- Cache %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
- Cookies %USERPROFILE%\Cookies
- Desktop %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
- Favorites %USERPROFILE%\Favorites
- History %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\History
- Local AppData %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data
- Local Settings %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings
- My Pictures %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Pictures
- NetHood %USERPROFILE%\NetHood
- Personal %USERPROFILE%\My Documents
- PrintHood %USERPROFILE%\PrintHood
- Programs %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs
- Recent %USERPROFILE%\Recent
- SendTo %USERPROFILE%\SendTo
- Start Menu %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu
- Startup %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
- Templates %USERPROFILE%\Templates
- </programlisting>
- </para>
+<para>
+<table frame="all">
+ <title>Defaults of default user profile paths registry keys</title>
+ <tgroup cols="2">
+ <thead><row><entry>Name</entry><entry>Default Value</entry></row></thead>
+ <tbody>
+ <row><entry>AppData</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Application Data</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Cache</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Cookies</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Cookies</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Desktop</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Desktop</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Favorites</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Favorites</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>History</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\History</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Local AppData</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Local Settings</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>My Pictures</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Pictures</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>NetHood</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\NetHood</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Personal</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\My Documents</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>PrintHood</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\PrintHood</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Programs</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Recent</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Recent</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>SendTo</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\SendTo</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Start Menu</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Startup</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup</entry></row>
+ <row><entry>Templates</entry><entry>%USERPROFILE%\Templates</entry></row>
+ </tbody></tgroup></table>
+</para>
<para>
-There is also an entry called "Default" that has no value set. The default entry is of type REG_SZ, all
-the others are of type REG_EXPAND_SZ.
+There is also an entry called "Default" that has no value set. The default entry is of type <constant>REG_SZ</constant>, all
+the others are of type <constant>REG_EXPAND_SZ</constant>.
</para>
<para>
<para>
To set this to a network location you could use the following examples:
+</para>
-<programlisting>
- %LOGONSERVER%\%USERNAME%\Default Folders
-</programlisting>
-
-This would store the folders in the user's home directory under a directory called "Default Folders"
+<para><filename>%LOGONSERVER%\%USERNAME%\Default Folders</filename></para>
+<para>
+This would store the folders in the user's home directory under a directory called <filename>Default Folders</filename>
You could also use:
+</para>
-<programlisting>
- \\SambaServer\FolderShare\%USERNAME%
-</programlisting>
+<para><filename>\\<replaceable>SambaServer</replaceable>\<replaceable>FolderShare</replaceable>\%USERNAME%</filename></para>
-in which case the default folders will be stored in the server named <emphasis>SambaServer</emphasis>
-in the share called <emphasis>FolderShare</emphasis> under a directory that has the name of the MS Windows
+<para>
+ in which case the default folders will be stored in the server named <replaceable>SambaServer</replaceable>
+in the share called <replaceable>FolderShare</replaceable> under a directory that has the name of the MS Windows
user as seen by the Linux/Unix file system.
</para>
A roaming profile will be cached locally unless the following registry key is created:
</para>
-<para>
-<programlisting>
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\winlogon\
- "DeleteRoamingCache"=dword:00000001
-</programlisting>
+<para><filename>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\winlogon\"DeleteRoamingCache"=dword:00000001</filename></para>
+<para>
In which case, the local cache copy will be deleted on logout.
</para>
</sect2>
<title>Common Errors</title>
<para>
-THe following are some typical errors/problems/questions that have been asked.
+The following are some typical errors/problems/questions that have been asked.
</para>
<sect2>
be either:
</para>
-<itemizedlist>
- <listitem><para>
- A profile unique to that user
- </para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>
- A mandatory profile (one the user can not change)
- </para></listitem>
- <listitem><para>
- A group profile (really should be mandatory ie:unchangable)
- </para></listitem>
-</itemizedlist>
+<simplelist>
+ <member>A profile unique to that user</member>
+ <member>A mandatory profile (one the user can not change)</member>
+ <member>A group profile (really should be mandatory ie:unchangable)</member>
+</simplelist>
+
+</sect2>
+
+<sect2>
+<title>Can NOT use Roaming Profiles</title>
+
+<para>
+<quote>
+ I dont want Roaming profile to be implemented, I just want to give users
+ local profiles only.
+...
+ Please help me I am totally lost with this error from past two days I tried
+ everything and googled around quite a bit but of no help. Please help me.
+</quote></para>
+
+<para>
+Your choices are:
+<!-- FIXME: Write to whole sentences -->
+
+<variablelist>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Local profiles</term>
+ <listitem><para>
+ I know of no registry keys that will allow auto-deletion of LOCAL profiles on log out
+ </para></listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Roaming profiles</term>
+ <listitem><para>
+ <simplelist>
+ <member>can use auto-delete on logout option</member>
+ <member>requires a registry key change on workstation</member>
+ </simplelist>
+
+ Your choices are:
+
+ <variablelist>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Personal Roaming profiles</term>
+ <listitem><para>
+ - should be preserved on a central server
+ - workstations 'cache' (store) a local copy
+ - used in case the profile can not be downloaded
+ at next logon
+ </para></listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Group profiles</term>
+ <listitem><para>- loaded from a central place</para></listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term>Mandatory profiles</term>
+ <listitem><para>
+ - can be personal or group
+ - can NOT be changed (except by an administrator
+ </para></listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ </variablelist>
+ </para></listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+</variablelist>
+
+</para>
+
+<para>
+A WinNT4/2K/XP profile can vary in size from 130KB to off the scale.
+Outlook PST files are most often part of the profile and can be many GB in
+size. On average (in a well controlled environment) roaming profile size of
+2MB is a good rule of thumb to use for planning purposes. In an
+undisciplined environment I have seen up to 2GB profiles. Users tend to
+complain when it take an hour to log onto a workstation but they harvest
+the fruits of folly (and ignorance).
+</para>
+
+<para>
+The point of all the above is to show that roaming profiles and good
+controls of how they can be changed as well as good discipline make up for
+a problem free site.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+Microsoft's answer to the PST problem is to store all email in an MS
+Exchange Server back-end. But this is another story ...!
+</para>
+
+<para>
+So, having LOCAL profiles means:
+
+<simplelist>
+ <member>If lots of users user each machine - lot's of local disk storage needed for local profiles</member>
+ <member>Every workstation the user logs into has it's own profile - can be very different from machine to machine</member>
+</simplelist>
+
+On the other hand, having roaming profiles means:
+<simplelist>
+ <member>The network administrator can control EVERY aspect of user profiles</member>
+ <member>With the use of mandatory profiles - a drastic reduction in network management overheads</member>
+ <member>User unhappiness about not being able to change their profiles soon fades as they get used to being able to work reliably</member>
+</simplelist>
+
+</para>
+
+<para>
+I have managed and installed MANY NT/2K networks and have NEVER found one
+where users who move from machine to machine are happy with local
+profiles. In the long run local profiles bite them.
+</para>
+
+</sect2>
+
+<!-- FIXME: Everything below this is a mess. I didn't quite understand it - Jelmer -->
+
+<sect2>
+ <title>Changing the default profile</title>
+
+<para><quote>
+When the client tries to logon to the PDC it looks for a profile to download
+where do I put this default profile.
+</quote></para>
+
+<para>
+Firstly, your samba server need to be configured as a domain controller.
+</para>
+
+<programlisting>
+ server = user
+ os level = 32 (or more)
+ domain logons = Yes
+</programlisting>
+
+<para>
+Plus you need to have a <parameter>[netlogon]</parameter> share that is world readable.
+It is a good idea to add a logon script to pre-set printer and
+drive connections. There is also a facility for automatically
+synchronizing the workstation time clock with that of the logon
+server (another good thing to do).
+</para>
+
+<note><para>
+To invoke auto-deletion of roaming profile from the local
+workstation cache (disk storage) you need to use the <application>Group Policy Editor</application>
+to create a file called <filename>NTConfig.POL</filename> with the appropriate entries. This
+file needs to be located in the <parameter>netlogon</parameter> share root directory.</para></note>
+
+<para>
+Oh, of course the windows clients need to be members of the domain.
+Workgroup machines do NOT do network logons - so they never see domain
+profiles.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+Secondly, for roaming profiles you need:
+
+ logon path = \\%N\profiles\%U (with some such path)
+ logon drive = H: (Z: is the default)
+
+ Plus you need a PROFILES share that is world writable.
+</para>
</sect2>
</sect1>
git.samba.org / kai / samba-autobuild / .git / blobdiff