Roaming Profiles

RichDRichD Essex, UK
edited December 2008 in Science & Tech
Hi There,

I'm relatively new to networking so I apologise if this sounds like a stupid question. I have already set up a small home network but I want to try and set up roaming profiles. My two PCs are running Vista Home edition. I am not sure if it is possible to have this level of network control with the home edition. Can anyone point me to a good guide on how to set this up?

Thank You.

Comments

  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited November 2008
    To do any sort of profiling you'd need a central domain controller that each pc logs into. That domain controller would handle the logging information for each user and it's through there that you'd setup the roaming profiles.

    With only 2 computers on the network about all you can do is setup file sharing and that's about it.
  • QCHQCH Ancient Guru Chicago Area - USA Icrontian
    edited November 2008
    kryyst wrote:
    To do any sort of profiling you'd need a central domain controller that each pc logs into. That domain controller would handle the logging information for each user and it's through there that you'd setup the roaming profiles.

    With only 2 computers on the network about all you can do is setup file sharing and that's about it.

    Roaming profiles are NORMALLY only associated with domains but you CAN reassign where a profile is stored (another partition or a remote hard drive). That works for most cases until you login to the account from two locations. It will balk on the second login since the NTUSER.DAT is locked by the first login. If you never plan on using the same account from two computers at the same time, this should work.

    The catch... I know the ability to move the profile is available with Vista NOT in a domain but it is not available in Vista Home.... Sorry. :(
  • RichDRichD Essex, UK
    edited November 2008
    Cheers,

    So Presumably I configure a PC to act as the CDC? If so does it have to be running the same OS?

    I am setting up a media centre for my TV and Stereo which will be Linux based. The idea being that I can share a partition to my other two PCs. The media centre will be permanently switched on.

    Could a linux PC be the CDC? or am I really overcomlicating things now?
  • mas0nmas0n howdy Icrontian
    edited November 2008
    If you let us know what exactly the end goal is we might be able to come up with an alternative solution. I'm having a hard time imagining a use for roaming profiles on a home network that would be worth the hassle.
  • RichDRichD Essex, UK
    edited November 2008
    I do music production and DJing so I want to have all my tunes and stuff that im working on stored somewhere that I can get to them on both my desktop and laptop. I could probably do it with a shared folder, but I liked the idea of roaming profile. I will need some form of synchronisation too as Cubase uses a plugin folder called the VST folder for all its synths and effects. I wouldn't want to run these from a network folder due to performance issues but I need the folders to be synched between laptop and desktop.

    That was a bit rambley so ill summarise

    A file server for music and project files to be be based on Linux platform with a Windows partion. Synched plugin files between laptop and desktop.

    I hope that makes sense
  • QCHQCH Ancient Guru Chicago Area - USA Icrontian
    edited November 2008
    I have a similar setup at my home. I have a laptop, two desktops, and a server. The server has all media and shares the folders. Each machine is setup with a mapped drive to the server. The laptop, the mapped drive was setup initially and made a shortcut then canceled the mapping so I can just click on the shortcut and it reestablishes the connection.
  • RichDRichD Essex, UK
    edited December 2008
    I think I have sorted this one.

    I have done away with the idea of the file server. I was going to use the File server as i was going to add an HD DVD player and the pc I had is not high enough spec to do that. So instead I am just using my Gaming PC with the extra HD used to store all my music and i will map a network drive from the laptop.

    I am then using MS SyncToy to sychronise my user directory between laptop and desktop and also to back up my music to an External HD.

    I am going to try and see if I can get sync toy to run as a scheduled task. Only downside is that I have to share my files with write permisions for the sync to work which from a security point of view worries me a little. I think it is as safe as the key on my wireless router?
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