Preparing to Use System Policies on the Network

You can have Windows 98 copy system policies from the network either manually or automatically. If you want to copy system policies automatically, Windows 98 locates the system policy file (Config.pol) in the proper directory on the network and downloads its policy settings into the registry of the local computer when the user logs on. If you want to copy system policies manually, Windows 98 copies the system policy file from a location you specify. Automatic downloading works only if the file name for the system policy file is Config.pol.

Note

Windows 98 supports automatic downloading for Windows NT and NetWare networks. The 32-bit, protected-mode network clients — subsequently made available for other networks — might also provide support for automatic downloading.

Setting Up for Automatic Downloading of System Policies

By default, Windows 98 downloads system policies automatically. However, if you have switched to manual downloading, the following procedures describe how to return to automatic downloading.

If you have created a POL file, Windows 98 automatically downloads it from the Netlogon directory on a Windows NT network or from the Public directory on a NetWare network.

To set up automatic downloading on Windows NT networks

In Control Panel, double-click Network, and then make sure that Client for Microsoft Networks is specified as the Primary Network Logon client and that the domain is defined. For more information, see Chapter 18, "Logon, Browsing, and Resource Sharing."

Create the policy file to be downloaded, and save it in the following location:

\\PDC\x$\WINNT\system32\Repl\Import\Scripts\Config.pol (where x = SystemDrive)

Important

You must create the Config.pol file on a Windows 98 (or Windows 95) computer and then copy it to your Windows NT server in the location specified in the previous procedure. Because of the different registry formats in Windows 98/95 and Windows NT, creating the Config.pol file on the Windows NT server will prevent it from working on your Windows 98 client computers.

To set up automatic downloading on NetWare networks

In Control Panel, double-click Network, and then make sure that Microsoft Client for NetWare Networks is specified as the Primary Network Logon client and that a preferred server is specified in properties for the network client. For more information, see Chapter 17, "Windows 98 on Third-Party Networks."
Create the policy file to be downloaded, and save it in the following location:
```
\\preferred server\sys\public\Config.pol
```

For NetWare networks, the client computers must be running Microsoft Client for NetWare Networks. If the client computers are using NetWare 3.x workstation shell (NETX) or Virtual Loadable Module (VLM), policies must be downloaded manually.

Important

Make sure you place system policy files on the user’s preferred server. Policy files are not available if they are stored on other NetWare servers or on computers running File and Printer Sharing for NetWare Networks.

Setting Up for Manual Downloading of System Policies

If you use the Remote Update policy, you can configure Windows 98 to allow you to download policy files manually (even when they are stored locally) by indicating a separate network or local computer location. Manual downloading overrides automatic downloading and allows you to choose where a user’s policies are stored.

You can set up each computer individually for manual downloading, but this can be time-consuming. If possible (that is, when the client computers use 32-bit, protected-mode network clients), you should set up each computer for automatic downloading and then use the Remote Update policy to point specific computers to other servers as appropriate for your environment and users.

However, for real-mode network clients, such as Novell NETX or VLM, you must enable manual downloading on each computer. After you configure the client computer, the system policy file will be downloaded the next time the user logs on.

To configure a computer for manual downloading of system policies

In System Policy Editor, click the File menu, and then click Open Registry.
Double-click Local Computer.
Double-click Windows 98 Network, double-click Update, and the select the Remote Update check box.
Note
The remote computer must be running the Microsoft Remote Registry service, Remote Administration must be enabled, and user-level security must be enabled.
Make sure to type the universal naming convention (UNC) path and the file name in the Path for manual update box.

On Windows NT or NetWare networks on which you are using automatic downloading of policies, you can set a system policy to allow manual downloading. This option works only after system policies have been downloaded automatically the first time after Windows 98 has been installed. The first automatic downloading includes information in the system policies that defines the location to be used for manual downloading.

To define the location of policies for manual downloading

In System Policy Editor, open Config.pol, and then double-click the Default Computer icon.
Double-click Windows 98 Network, double-click Update, and then select the Remote Update check box.
In the Update Mode box, click Manual.
In the Path for manual update box, type the UNC path and file name for the system policy file you want to download. Make sure this file exists in the location you specify. (Otherwise, an error will result.)

Important

On a Windows NT network, you must create the Config.pol file on a Windows 98 computer and then copy it to your Windows NT server. Because of the different registry formats in Windows 98 and Windows NT, creating the Config.pol file on the Windows NT server will prevent it from working on your Windows 98 client computers.

On large networks, when thousands of users log on at the same time, all gaining access to the same policy file, you might experience slow network performance. To avoid a bottleneck, Windows 98 offers load balancing on Windows NT networks. With load balancing enabled, policies are taken from the logon server (which can be a domain controller or a backup domain controller) rather than the primary domain controller. Although this spreads the load over many servers, it does require that you replicate the policy file on each server. For information about Windows NT replication, see the Microsoft Windows NT Server Networking Guide in the Microsoft Windows NT Server Resource Kit (for Windows NT version 4.0).

Note

Load-balancing works only when using a 32-bit protected mode client setup for automatic downloading of system policies.

To enable load balancing

Perform the earlier procedure, "To define the location of policies for manual downloading."
Under Settings for Remote Update, make sure Load-balance is selected.

If you want to use load balancing, make sure it is enabled on each client computer. Also, make sure you have a current policy file on each server that will participate in load balancing, including all Windows NT domain controllers and servers. One convenient way to implement load balancing is to set this policy in the Config.pol file that is on the primary domain controller. As each client computer downloads this policy, it will subsequently look for Config.pol on the logon server.