Convert folder redirection to one drive

[kwest]

I have a client that has folder redirection that is spread between two servers. There are 25 users that all have office365 exchange.

I would like to disable folder redirection and enable teams or one drive for business (whatever Microsoft is calling it this week).

I don’t have much experience with redirection. If I disable will I have to manually move the files back to the workstation? How does that work since admin doesn’t have access to those files.

once that is completed I want to enable syncing desktop and documents on all users. Need to know if there is a script or if they will each need to download and turn on sync on their workstation.

thanks in advance for any help.

 

[SAFCasper]

Assisting OneDrive migration with Known Folder Move: Part 1 – Preparations – 4sysops

Known Folder Move (KFM) is a set of Group Policy Objects (GPO) settings that attempt to migrate user data into the OneDrive Sync Client with a minimum of user a

4sysops.com

Known Folder Move: Part 2 – Group Policy settings

In my last post, I discussed the preparations and process of migrating to OneDrive with Known Folder Move (KFM). Today, I’ll walk you through the corresponding Group Policy settings.

4sysops.com

I've done a few recently and found this guide helpful.

Keep in mind the SSO will only work if your workstations are Azure-AD joined or you have a hybrid setup with Azure Adconnect. Without those the user has to manually sign-in to OneDrive with their credentials.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Logically the process isn't hard, but... it can be a bit of a mess.

What I prefer to do is to move them in batches, first set the GPO that's doing the redirecting to revert the settings when it isn't applied. Once that's sunk in, I move the users out of that OU, reset their passwords and login as them on their stations. That moves the files off the server to the stations as if they're default profiles. Once that's done, the OneDrive Backup can be enabled.

The links above describe how to turn the knobs I just described.

By the way I explicitely avoid single sign-on because of this mess. It prevents you from logging into the workstations for the user, and the only reliable means I know to configure Onedrive is manual.

 

[Moltuae]

I have a client that has folder redirection that is spread between two servers.

Can I ask why you would want to?

Sounds like they have a great setup already. Folder redirection keeps the files off of the workstations (which is much better for security, GDPR, etc compliance) and keeps the data on the premises, further improving security and accessibility. A 2+ server setup (presumably with DFS-R?) is the best way to do it too. OneDrive is the poor-man's folder redirection, intended for organisations that don't have (or don't want) a proper server setup. By moving the customer's data to cloud storage you're handing over control of the customer's data to a custodial service, thereby lowering data security (unless you plan to per-encrypt everything) and potentially reducing data accessibility. IMO, way too much trust is put into cloud services, just because they provide convenient, easy solutions.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yup we do that a lot. Generally it's controlled by group policy, so...like Rob said above....tickle that setting to ensure it reverts back to local when removed...make sure it settles in...either disable it later...or move the users out of the OU....and ensure after a couple of reboots that the files went back to the local C:\Users\Username\Folders
You'll know when it kicks in..that next login may take a while as the folders get pushed back to the workstation.

One Drive has the potential to "back up" the users Documents, Desktop, and Pictures folders. It was always OneDrive, never Teams...so no "whichever it is this week". Always OneDrive. A year or two ago...a 5th tab got added to OneDrive for Biz....called "Backup". In there...you have the option to sync those folders. Have to go in and turn that on.
The first time you hit it, it will check those folders..and if still not properly set locally, it'll spit out an error that the folder (such as Documents) is managed by something else. So now you know you have to fix that....either the group policy got borked on that rig, or...(many causes).

You can manually manage that via the registry, I've fired up the registry..(see following link)..and manually set the Docs/Pics/Desktop...course you have to go copy the users files from the redirect folder on the server..put 'em here after you've made them. But it works on those rigs that for some reason never listened to the squashing of the folder redirect GPO.

Change Personal Folders Location By Using Registry (Windows 8, 7 & Vista)

Detailed instructions to change Personal Folders Location (Desktop, Documents, Music, Videos) to a different location (drive) on your computer.

www.repairwin.com

 

[kwest]

Can I ask why you would want to?

Sounds like they have a great setup already. Folder redirection keeps the files off of the workstations (which is much better for security, GDPR, etc compliance) and keeps the data on the premises, further improving security and accessibility. A 2+ server setup (presumably with DFS-R?) is the best way to do it too. OneDrive is the poor-man's folder redirection, intended for organisations that don't have (or don't want) a proper server setup. By moving the customer's data to cloud storage you're handing over control of the customer's data to a custodial service, thereby lowering data security (unless you plan to per-encrypt everything) and potentially reducing data accessibility. IMO, way too much trust is put into cloud services, just because they provide convenient, easy solutions.

We need to decommission their old server. Folders are split on both. They run out of space on the servers constantly. They already have o365 exchange so each user has 1tb of online space. They were also hit with encryption virus on a lot of their systems and network shares.
Figure this would be a better solution since they don’t want to replace the old server.

 

[kwest]

Yup we do that a lot. Generally it's controlled by group policy, so...like Rob said above....tickle that setting to ensure it reverts back to local when removed...make sure it settles in...either disable it later...or move the users out of the OU....and ensure after a couple of reboots that the files went back to the local C:\Users\Username\Folders
You'll know when it kicks in..that next login may take a while as the folders get pushed back to the workstation.

One Drive has the potential to "back up" the users Documents, Desktop, and Pictures folders. It was always OneDrive, never Teams...so no "whichever it is this week". Always OneDrive. A year or two ago...a 5th tab got added to OneDrive for Biz....called "Backup". In there...you have the option to sync those folders. Have to go in and turn that on.
The first time you hit it, it will check those folders..and if still not properly set locally, it'll spit out an error that the folder (such as Documents) is managed by something else. So now you know you have to fix that....either the group policy got borked on that rig, or...(many causes).

You can manually manage that via the registry, I've fired up the registry..(see following link)..and manually set the Docs/Pics/Desktop...course you have to go copy the users files from the redirect folder on the server..put 'em here after you've made them. But it works on those rigs that for some reason never listened to the squashing of the folder redirect GPO.

Change Personal Folders Location By Using Registry (Windows 8, 7 & Vista)

Detailed instructions to change Personal Folders Location (Desktop, Documents, Music, Videos) to a different location (drive) on your computer.

www.repairwin.com

Thank you for the Info. There is one drive, one drive for business, share point, and recently teams which uses some of the previous to share.

let me know if I am wrong (which you already did). Just want to know where I am wrong.

thanks again for spending the time to give me great info.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

With Microsoft 365....there are "personal" licenses, and "business" licenses.
With the personal accounts...you use the plain OneDrive.
When you have a business account....OneDrive is the same, but....it's just called OneDrive for Business....and when it "syncs"....over in your user library shortcut in File Explorer, you'll see OneDrive <name of tenant>. With name of tenant being...whatever name you have it...usually something to do with your business.

Sharepoint uses the OneDrive sync engine to sync its folders. With OneDrive itself syncing user folders, Sharepoint is the central file server for everyone to access...and it uses the OneDrive engine to do that. So when you first sync folders in a Sharepoint document library, you'll see the OneDrive window pop up briefly while it sets up the "sync".

Teams is a collaboration tool which brings tons of different apps and services into a single pane....one of which is document libraries from Sharepoint...so when you go to sync a document library from within Teams...it's just reaching into Sharepoint...which leverages the OneDrive engine for the sync. It's nice to setup everything from within Teams...so you can build all those document libraries from within Teams. Each Team you build in Teams makes a 365 Group...which itself setups a unique Sharepoint Site for each one.