Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 - Manual (Page 13)

Microsoft Windows NT Server White Paper 5
A Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 User Profile describes the Windows NT configu-
ration for a specific user, including the user’s environment and preference
settings. A User Profile can be local, roaming, or mandatory. A local profile is
specific to a given computer. A user who creates a local profile on a particular
computer can gain access to that profile only while logged on to that computer.
Conversely, a roaming profile is stored on a network share and can be ac-
cessed from any networked computer. A user who has a roaming profile can
log on to any networked computer for which that profile is valid and access the
profile. A mandatory profile is a preconfigured roaming profile that the user
cannot change. As a system administrator, you may want to use mandatory
profiles for a group of people who require a common interface and standard
configuration.
One of the primary goals of User Profiles is to allow a user’s system and
desktop customizations to travel with the user from computer to computer,
without requiring the user to reconfigure any settings. When a user logs on to
any computer that supports his or her roaming profile, the desktop appears—
just as the user left it the last time he or she logged off. With roaming user sup-
port, users can share computers, but each user has his or her personal
desktop on any computer in the network (both roaming and mandatory profiles
support this functionality).
Creating and Administering User Profiles
User Profiles can be created and administered in several different ways as will
be described next. Note that as a system administrator, you determine whether
users can modify their profiles.
•
You create a User Profile that is not modifiable for a particular user or
group (this is a mandatory profile).
•
You establish a network Default User Profile that applies to all new users
on Windows NT 4.0 computers. After downloading this default profile and
logging on, the user can customize the profile (provided that it is not man-
datory).
•
You allow a new user to use the local Default User Profile on the
Windows NT 4.0 computer where the user logs on. After logging on, the
user can customize the profile (provided that it is not mandatory).
•
You copy a template User Profile, and assign the copy to a user. The user
can then customize the profile (provided that it is not a mandatory profile).
Profiles can be stored on a network server or cached on the local machine.
(Cached profiles are located in the \%systemroot%\Profiles directory.) Caching
a profile reduces the total time to log on and load the profile; however, in a
roaming user or kiosk environment, this approach may not be optimal. This
option is controlled by the administrator.
User Profile Structure
A User Profile is comprised of a Windows NT registry hive and a set of profile
directories. The registry is a database used to store machine- and user-specific
ESTABLISHING USER
PROFILES – AN
OVERVIEW