Scripting a "change" to a users favorites folder
to work out of a central source in a multi
server environment.
As we navigate in and out
of our existing and future state citrix and
terminal server environments, our user base and
end user requests change to meet business
requirements. and naturally, its difficult to
work within the confines of your network and
change processes. In this situation, we have a
customer who wants to enable the sharing of the
favorites server for an application currently
hosted in a XenApp 5.0 farm.
This is a legit request, and one that
probably many of you see quite often. The
question is, how can we effectively manage
seemingly small request this for our citrix/ts
users?
First lets quickly describe the parameters we
are working with:
1.) Roaming profiles are available if needed
2.) Domain group policy is not an option
3.) Local group policy is an option
4.) Citrix icon is distributed among 8 servers
in a load balanced configuration.
5.) Only need to redirect Favorites, Shell
folders
Option One:
To address the need to redirect favorites,
change\modify the following registry key:
Shell folders:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders, Favorites
Default Value: %USERPROFILE%\Favorites... Note:
User Shell Folders/Favorites is a hex value and
the best way to manage in this case would be to
make your settings on a test box then export
your registry key. This hex value will hold any
variables you may have or use. Unlike Shell
Folders\favorites, which will immediately
translate your variable into its static value.
Change to: driveletter:\%username%\Favorites_Roam
To address the need to redirect shell
favorites, change\modify the following registry
key:
IE Favorites:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders, Favorites
Default Value: C:\Documents and Settings\userID\Favorites
Change to: driveletter:\%username%\Favorites_Roam
To test changes:
1.) manually set values for non administrative
test account on one server
2.) log off server
3.) log back in
4.) con registry values under option one still
exist
5.) open internet explorer and save any random
website as favorite
6.) navigate to any explorer directory and set
as favorite
7.) logon to a second server where the above
changes have not been previously made and make
the registry changes
