Roaming Profile Local Settings Folder missing

Pinkks · 02-11-2007, 11:14 AM

I am running Samba PDC on SUSE 10.2 with roaming profiles for Win XP workstations and all seemed to be running fine until I set-up MS Outlook for one user. I do not have MS Exchange, so Outlook is configured for Internet e-mail only.

On one PC Outlook runs fine but when I log-off and try at another PC the Outlook .pst file cannot be found. A quick look at the Linux server show why. The "Local Settings" set of folders, in which Outlook stores its .pst file by default is not being transferred as part of the roaming profile.

Is this a bug in Samba, or have I possibly done something wrong (I am rather new to the world of Linux and everything was going so well too...)

Thanks

SnotRocket · 02-11-2007, 08:17 PM

Interesting problem... I wonder if it has to do with the "Local Settings" directory being hidden.

Here is an excerpt form my smb.conf file:

Code:

[profiles]
        map system = yes
        writable = yes
        delete readonly = yes
        mangle case = yes
        map hidden = yes
        path = /Storage/profiles
        write list = @smbusers @root
        hide files = /desktop.ini/ntuser.ini/NTUSER.*/
        create mode = 0600
        directory mode = 0700

I would make sure to set: "map hidden = yes"

You may also want to post your config.

Hope this helps.

arno · 02-12-2007, 08:55 AM

pst and some other files are not synchronized, here is a work around.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=252509

Pinkks · 02-12-2007, 04:21 PM

SnotRocket,
Thanks. I have added the map hidden command as shown below but still do not see the "local settings" folder in the users profile in Home. Should I have restarted Samba in the same way as is necessary when adding users?

[profiles]
comment = Network Profiles Service
path = %H
map hidden = Yes
read only = No
store dos attributes = Yes
create mask = 0600
directory mask = 0700

Arno,
Thanks as well. I can see why .pst files are not synchronised, especially on an Exchange Server but is that the case when the file is simply part of "local settings"? As the .pst file is for a central email address, contact@ I suppose another workaround would be to store it somewhere on the central file store and then point Outlook at it but if/when we get round to each user having their own mail address that would be a pain...

arno · 02-12-2007, 06:08 PM

Have a look at this, roaming profiles only work with xp professional and there are changes made by MS since srv pack 1.

http://www.rmschneider.com/writing/xp_and_samba.html

SnotRocket · 02-12-2007, 06:09 PM

After reading your response I looked back at several of my customers servers and noticed something interesting. The "Local Settings" folder is not part of the roaming profile. It seems to be the only folder that does not roam. Microsoft confirms this here:
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Window....mspx?mfr=true. It looks like Microsoft did this because the Local Settings folder is considered too large to roam effectively.

I would recommend just creating a new folder somewhere in your profile (outside Local Settings) and keeping your .pst file there.

I guess you learn something new everyday

Good Luck!

Pinkks · 02-13-2007, 02:33 PM

Thanks guys.

The technet article is especially helpful and as I am a hobbiest, not profi system administrator, puts my mind at rest that it is neither me, not Linux/Samba, that is causing the "problem". Looks like time to either put the .pst folder elsewhere in the roaming part of the profile or, as this is a "non personal", i.e. reception desk e-mail account, to pop the whole thing on the file server HDD and simply point Outlook in that direction.

All I need to do then is to find a Linux version of "MS Exchange Server" that supports MS Outlook clients (and someone to explain to me how to set it up) and my goal of persoanl e-mail will be complete.

Thanks again both for your help.