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    Windows Offline Files query

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    windows windows server windows server 2008 windows offline folders group policy
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    • vhinzsanchezV
      vhinzsanchez
      last edited by scottalanmiller

      I have earlier posted in Spiceworks but after 5 or so hours, still no answer. Perhaps ML has some pointers.

      We have Windows 2008 (not R2...I know its quite old, I may get a lot of spanking here..hehehe...but I already asked the management to upgrade to 2012/2016) with Windows 7 clients.

      I have configured a network folder to be offline through GPO, worked wonderful. However, when I changed the ACL (removing a group's access access to it) of a sub-folder, it is still accessible via offline. To troubleshoot further, I accessed the sub-folder while online and gotten an access error, which is expected. Now, disabled network again--to be offline, the sub-folder was not accessed (as it should).

      So, I would like to ask, if this is a default behaviour of offline files (you'll need to force it to recognize the ACL change) before it update the access? Shouldn't the propagation of access be automatic? Or I have some mis-configuration somewhere?

      IRJI DashrenderD 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 4
      • scottalanmillerS
        scottalanmiller
        last edited by

        I believe that that is correct. Offline files have to cache permissions or else they cannot work. There is no way or at least no way to necessarily push permissions to something offline.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
        • scottalanmillerS
          scottalanmiller
          last edited by

          Keep in mind that the alternative to offline folders is for the user to simply make their own copy of the files - taking away your ability to manage them completely. Offline folders gives you a balance in the middle. The file is something that the user already had access to, so there shouldn't be a security concern in needing it taken away quickly as they could already have their own copies.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • scottalanmillerS
            scottalanmiller
            last edited by

            I don't have an offline folder here to work with, but I'm pretty sure that if you were to update the files with new data, and then have the offline folder pick up those changes, that the new ACLs would apply. It's because the offline folder is still acting as offline and working from the cache that the ACLs don't apply yet.

            vhinzsanchezV DashrenderD 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
            • vhinzsanchezV
              vhinzsanchez @scottalanmiller
              last edited by

              @scottalanmiller said in Windows Offline Files query:

              I don't have an offline folder here to work with, but I'm pretty sure that if you were to update the files with new data, and then have the offline folder pick up those changes, that the new ACLs would apply. It's because the offline folder is still acting as offline and working from the cache that the ACLs don't apply yet.

              I have yet to try to update the folder. However, removal of their access was from last week, and it didn't propagate. Luckily, there are only a handful in the group, about 8 of them. I have manually tried to access per user to update the access.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • scottalanmillerS
                scottalanmiller
                last edited by

                I have no idea how quickly, or if ever, that it would propagate if there are no changes.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • ObsolesceO
                  Obsolesce
                  last edited by

                  Sounds like the typical workings of offline folders. Nothing you can really do about it.

                  Have you considered testing Work Folders? I think it requires 2012, but may be worth an evaluation.

                  I think this may be helpful: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/filecab/2015/09/04/comparing-work-folders-and-offline-files/

                  vhinzsanchezV 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • vhinzsanchezV
                    vhinzsanchez @Obsolesce
                    last edited by

                    Thanks SAM and Tim!

                    Seems that there is really nothing I could have done better than manually accessing the folder.

                    @Tim_G , I'll take note work folder, have not heard of it 'till now (I'm really out-dated...hehehe).

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • scottalanmillerS
                      scottalanmiller
                      last edited by

                      Yeah, 2008 is nearly a decade old! One more year to go.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • StrongBadS
                        StrongBad
                        last edited by

                        I think SAM and Tim are right, sounds like once you go Offline with Offline Folders, you can't get ACL updates until something else happens.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • IRJI
                          IRJ @vhinzsanchez
                          last edited by

                          @vhinzsanchez said in Windows Offline Files query:

                          We have Windows 2008 (not R2...I know its quite old, I may get a lot of spanking here..hehehe...

                          http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z198/jimmyeightysix/Simpsons/Simpsons-ThatsaPaddlin_zps0ffeb18d.jpg

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                          • DashrenderD
                            Dashrender
                            last edited by

                            Even with the GPO enabled - do offline file/folders sync if the user never touches the files?

                            I've never tried that.

                            scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • scottalanmillerS
                              scottalanmiller @Dashrender
                              last edited by

                              @Dashrender said in Windows Offline Files query:

                              Even with the GPO enabled - do offline file/folders sync if the user never touches the files?

                              I've never tried that.

                              They would already be synced.

                              DashrenderD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • DashrenderD
                                Dashrender @scottalanmiller
                                last edited by

                                @scottalanmiller said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                @Dashrender said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                Even with the GPO enabled - do offline file/folders sync if the user never touches the files?

                                I've never tried that.

                                They would already be synced.

                                So you're saying the GPO would force a sync of files that a user has never touched? I.E. New user - they log in, GPO applies - forces syncing of files to local machine instantly. Is that right?

                                scottalanmillerS 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • scottalanmillerS
                                  scottalanmiller @Dashrender
                                  last edited by

                                  @Dashrender said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                  @scottalanmiller said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                  @Dashrender said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                  Even with the GPO enabled - do offline file/folders sync if the user never touches the files?

                                  I've never tried that.

                                  They would already be synced.

                                  So you're saying the GPO would force a sync of files that a user has never touched? I.E. New user - they log in, GPO applies - forces syncing of files to local machine instantly. Is that right?

                                  No, I'm saying that if they are never touched, they would not have stopped being in sync. Therefore, still in sync.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • scottalanmillerS
                                    scottalanmiller @Dashrender
                                    last edited by

                                    @Dashrender said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                    I.E. New user - they log in, GPO applies - forces syncing of files to local machine instantly. Is that right?

                                    I don't think that the GPO does anything here other than turning on Offline Folders. Then OF syncs up at appropriate times (e.g. when the files are out of sync but available to be synced.)

                                    DashrenderD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • DashrenderD
                                      Dashrender @scottalanmiller
                                      last edited by

                                      @scottalanmiller said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                      @Dashrender said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                      I.E. New user - they log in, GPO applies - forces syncing of files to local machine instantly. Is that right?

                                      I don't think that the GPO does anything here other than turning on Offline Folders. Then OF syncs up at appropriate times (e.g. when the files are out of sync but available to be synced.)

                                      OK, then in that case, your suggestion of adding a new file wouldn't actually do anything, because the user never opened the new file.

                                      scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • scottalanmillerS
                                        scottalanmiller @Dashrender
                                        last edited by

                                        @Dashrender said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                        @scottalanmiller said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                        @Dashrender said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                        I.E. New user - they log in, GPO applies - forces syncing of files to local machine instantly. Is that right?

                                        I don't think that the GPO does anything here other than turning on Offline Folders. Then OF syncs up at appropriate times (e.g. when the files are out of sync but available to be synced.)

                                        OK, then in that case, your suggestion of adding a new file wouldn't actually do anything, because the user never opened the new file.

                                        I agree, that would not work. When did I say that?

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • DashrenderD
                                          Dashrender @scottalanmiller
                                          last edited by

                                          @scottalanmiller said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                          I don't have an offline folder here to work with, but I'm pretty sure that if you were to update the files with new data, and then have the offline folder pick up those changes, that the new ACLs would apply. It's because the offline folder is still acting as offline and working from the cache that the ACLs don't apply yet.

                                          Oh.. you didn't say put a new file - you said update a file with new data... OK I stand corrected - but, this would only work if the file in question had already been synced, so you'd need to update every file in the folder to ensure this would work.

                                          scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • scottalanmillerS
                                            scottalanmiller @Dashrender
                                            last edited by

                                            @Dashrender said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                            @scottalanmiller said in Windows Offline Files query:

                                            I don't have an offline folder here to work with, but I'm pretty sure that if you were to update the files with new data, and then have the offline folder pick up those changes, that the new ACLs would apply. It's because the offline folder is still acting as offline and working from the cache that the ACLs don't apply yet.

                                            Oh.. you didn't say put a new file - you said update a file with new data... OK I stand corrected - but, this would only work if the file in question had already been synced, so you'd need to update every file in the folder to ensure this would work.

                                            Possibly, I'm not sure how the sync works. Does it work by file or by folder?

                                            DashrenderD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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