Folder redirection
Encyclopedia
In computing
, and specifically in the context of Microsoft Windows
operating system
s, Microsoft
refers to Folder Redirection when automatically re-routing I/O
to/from standard folders (directories) to use storage elsewhere on a network
.
It is often used in an office network environment, to ensure that users do not store data locally, when a network device is the preferred storage location. Folder Redirection allows saving data regardless of storage location and separates user data from profile data decreasing the time required to log on.
Other advantages include :
Under Microsoft Windows, the redirection is often performed by Group Policy
, when used in an Active Directory
environment. It can also be performed by manually editing the Windows Registry
, or with tools such as Tweak UI. Disk quota
s can be used to limit the amount of space taken up by users' special folders. The
s can also be used with Folder Redirection.
Up to Windows XP
, the Application Data, Desktop, My Documents, My Pictures, and Start Menu folders can be redirected to a file server. Windows Vista introduces the ability to independently redirect up to 10 user profile sub-folders to a network location. There is also a Management Console
snap-in in Windows Vista to allow users to configure Folder Redirection for clients running Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000
.
The equivalent functionality is achieved in Unix-like
systems by using
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, and specifically in the context of Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
s, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
refers to Folder Redirection when automatically re-routing I/O
I/O
I/O may refer to:* Input/output, a system of communication for information processing systems* Input-output model, an economic model of flow prediction between sectors...
to/from standard folders (directories) to use storage elsewhere on a network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
.
It is often used in an office network environment, to ensure that users do not store data locally, when a network device is the preferred storage location. Folder Redirection allows saving data regardless of storage location and separates user data from profile data decreasing the time required to log on.
Other advantages include :
- Data is stored on a server where it can be backed up
- If the same redirection is applied to multiple users, all data is stored in the one location
- Allows for sharing of data between users
- Allows system administrators to spend less on workstation hard drives, and more on file server hard drives
Under Microsoft Windows, the redirection is often performed by Group Policy
Group Policy
Group Policy is a feature of the Microsoft Windows NT family of operating systems. Group Policy is a set of rules that control the working environment of user accounts and computer accounts. Group Policy provides the centralized management and configuration of operating systems, applications, and...
, when used in an Active Directory
Active Directory
Active Directory is a directory service created by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is included in most Windows Server operating systems. Server computers on which Active Directory is running are called domain controllers....
environment. It can also be performed by manually editing the Windows Registry
Windows registry
The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database that stores configuration settings and options on Microsoft Windows operating systems. It contains settings for low-level operating system components as well as the applications running on the platform: the kernel, device drivers, services, SAM, user...
, or with tools such as Tweak UI. Disk quota
Disk quota
A disk quota is a limit set by a system administrator that restricts certain aspects of file system usage on modern operating systems. The function of using disk quotas is to allocate limited disk space in a reasonable way.-Types of quotas:...
s can be used to limit the amount of space taken up by users' special folders. The
%username% and %userprofile% environment variableEnvironment variable
Environment variables are a set of dynamic named values that can affect the way running processes will behave on a computer.They can be said in some sense to create the operating environment in which a process runs...
s can also be used with Folder Redirection.
Up to Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
, the Application Data, Desktop, My Documents, My Pictures, and Start Menu folders can be redirected to a file server. Windows Vista introduces the ability to independently redirect up to 10 user profile sub-folders to a network location. There is also a Management Console
Microsoft Management Console
Microsoft Management Console is a component of Windows 2000 and its successors that provides system administrators and advanced users an interface for configuring and monitoring the system.- Snap-ins and consoles :...
snap-in in Windows Vista to allow users to configure Folder Redirection for clients running Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
.
The equivalent functionality is achieved in Unix-like
Unix-like
A Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification....
systems by using
mountMount (Unix)The Unix command line utility mount instructs the operating system that a file system is ready to use, and associates it with a particular point in the system's file system hierarchy . The counterpart umount instructs the operating system that the file system should be disassociated from its mount...
or lnLn (Unix)ln is a standard Unix command used to create links to files.- Link files :Links allow more than one file name to refer to the same file, elsewhere.There are two types of links, both of which are created by ln:...
and a NFS.