Deploy Folder Redirection in Windows Server 2019

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on deploying Folder Redirection in Windows Server 2019 using Active Directory and Group Policy. Folder Redirection allows administrators to redirect the path of special folders such as Desktop and Documents to a network location, improving data accessibility and backup processes.

Step 1: Setup Shared Folder With Correct NTFS Permission

To begin, you need to create a shared folder that will store the redirected folders.

1. Create a Shared Folder

   • On your server, create a new folder, for example, \\ServerName\RedirectedFolders.

2. Set NTFS Permissions

   • Right-click the folder and select Properties.
   • Go to the Security tab and click Edit.
   • Add the users or groups that need access and assign them the following permissions:
     • Read & Execute
     • List Folder Contents
     • Read
     • Write (if they need to save files)

3. Share the Folder

   • Go to the Sharing tab, click on Share, and add the same users/groups with appropriate permissions (typically, Read/Write).

Step 2: Create a Group Policy Object and Configure Folder Redirection Settings

Next, you will create a Group Policy Object (GPO) to specify how the folder redirection will work.

1. Open Group Policy Management Console

   • On your server, open the Group Policy Management tool.

2. Create a New GPO

   • Right-click on the relevant Organizational Unit (OU) where the users are located and select Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here.
   • Name your GPO, for example, "Folder Redirection Policy".

3. Edit the GPO

   • Right-click the newly created GPO and select Edit.
   • Navigate to User Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Folder Redirection.

4. Configure Folder Redirection

   • Right-click on Desktop and select Properties.
     • Set the Setting to "Basic - Redirect everyone's folder to the same location".
     • Set the Target folder location to "Absolute path" and enter the UNC path, e.g., \\ServerName\RedirectedFolders\%USERNAME%\Desktop.
   • Repeat for Documents with a similar configuration.

Step 3: Link GPO to Specific OU

Ensure the GPO is linked to the correct OU where the user accounts reside.

1. Link the GPO

   • In the Group Policy Management Console, ensure the GPO you created is linked to the OU containing the target users.

2. Check GPO Application

   • You can run the gpresult /h report.html command on a client machine to generate a report and verify that the GPO is applied correctly.

Step 4: Check Result on Client Computer

Finally, confirm that the folder redirection is working as intended on the client computers.

1. Log In as a User

   • Log in to a client computer with a user account that is part of the OU linked to the GPO.

2. Verify Folder Redirection

   • Check the Desktop and Documents folders to ensure they are redirected to the network location:
     • Navigate to the Desktop and Documents and ensure the folders point to \\ServerName\RedirectedFolders\%USERNAME%.

3. Test Functionality

   • Create a file in the Documents folder and verify that it appears in the network location.

Conclusion

You have successfully deployed Folder Redirection in Windows Server 2019. By following these steps, you've configured a shared location for storing user data, set up a GPO for folder redirection, linked it to the appropriate OU, and verified the functionality on client computers. As a next step, consider reviewing user permissions periodically and monitoring the shared folder for optimal performance and security. For additional information, refer to the Microsoft Documentation.