Why Terminal Server Users Should Have New Home Directories
ID: Q186521
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The information in this article applies to:
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Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
SUMMARY
The default home directory location is the user's profile. This may not be
efficient if the user stores a large amount of data in the home directory.
MORE INFORMATION
By default, all users have a home directory defined for them. The default
location is the user's profile, located under
%systemroot%\profiles\%username%. The home directory is called "Windows,"
and contains a necessary subdirectory called "System." These are critical
directories. The system writes user-specific application INI files to the
user's Windows directory, and by default, refers any application requesting
the system Windows directory to the user's Windows directory.
Users typically make use of a home directory to save files.
If users do not save files in their home directories, then the default
location of the user's profile may not be an issue. However, if the user
stores files in the Windows home director, the user needs a new home
directory path outside of the user profile.
When a user logs on, the entire profile is parsed and loaded, including any
files in the default home directory. If you use roaming profiles, for
example, the profile and the entire set of files in the home directory will
be copied to the profile cache (the user's profile under
%SystemRoot%\Profiles\%UserName%) at every logon attempt. This can take
considerable time and resources, especially if the roaming profile is
stored across the network.
For these reasons, it is a good idea to specify a new location for home
directories in User Manager for each user. For example, create a directory
on the computer running Terminal Server called HOMEDIRS, and give the group
called "Everyone," Change permissions. Then you can specify the home
directory location as C:\Homedirs\%UserName% in User Manager. The system
will automatically create the username subdirectory and give it appropriate
permissions (Administrators receive Special Access permission with
directory-level access only, and the specific users receive Full Control).
The default permissions allow Administrators to copy files into the home
directory, but not to read or delete files there.
The Windows and Windows\System directories will also be automatically
created in the user's home directory. Administrators will be given Full
Control of these directories (and MUST have full control).
After the home directory is created, copy any files in the existing home
directory under the user's profile to the new home directory (make sure you
check the Windows and Windows\System subdirectories for any files). You can
then delete the old home directory.
Additional query words:
Keywords :
Version : WinNT:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbinfo