Network shares and offline files sync

[iainm2]

Hi, I have about 80 users on laptops, all on Windows XP SP3. Everything works fine, Folder Redirection, Offline Files etc. We have added a new complication to our way of working which I would appeciate some help with.
The users sync My Documents which is redirected to a network share. At log on and off this syncronises with the users offline cache. Works fine.
The users also have three network shares mapped. Untill synchronisation takes place the contents of the shares are not visible. This has not been a problem untill we installed a Sonic Firewall so that we can access the network using VPN. As the users My Documents can be quite large (!) sync can take a long time to happen or fail. The user is unable to get files from the network share until sync completes and this is causing them problems for some. Is there a way making network shares visible regardles of whether sync takes place?
Hope the above makes sense.

Thanks Iain

 

[linney]

I saw this quote and thought I would post it here in case it is of use?

"Perhaps try establishing the VPN connection PRIOR to logging into your machine. With the Cisco VPN client, one can enable a setting "Enable start before logon":

Options >> Windows Logon Properties

check the box next to "Enable start before logon" "

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/146089-45-offline-files

Have you posted in the Server Forum too?

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=1674

 

[iainm2]

I thought I would respond to my own post as I found the fix for this and others may like to know how to do this.
Instead of mapping network shares as \\servername\share, map the shares as \\ip address\share i.e

from \\fileserver\share to \\192.168.10.10\share

Now the users can use a slow VPN, stop synchonisation and still see the mapped drives and their contents.

 

[DTracy]

iainm2,

If using DHCP, be sure the IP reserved otherwise it could be re-assigned. The reason for using the UNC is for the DNS.

Regards,
David.