Configuring Shared Folders for Offline Files
When making files available for offline use, remember that the shared folder hosting these files must support the offline files feature. You can configure a shared folder on a computer running Windows 7 to support offline files by performing the following steps:
Categories: Management Tags: Always Available, BranchCache, cache, local cache, offline files, Optimized for performance, sharing
Windows 7 Sync Center
You can use Sync Center to synchronize files, manage offline files, and resolves synchronization conflicts manually. Sync Center allows you to check the results of your recent sync activity if you’ve set up your computer to sync files with a network server. This allows you to access copies of your network files even when your computer isn’t connected to the network. Sync Center can tell you if the files synced successfully or if there are any sync errors or warnings.
Categories: Management Tags: cache, file, local cache, offline files, resolving conflicts, sync, Sync Center, synchronization, version
Offline File Policies
Windows 7 has several Offline File polices that helps systems administrators maintain users productivity when a temporary disruption occurs or when a user is out of the office, however, it is worth noting that among the 28 polices there are some vital ones that gives administrators the control needed to manage this feature appropriately. In this post I will discuss the policies that allow you to exclude specific file types from being available offline, how often background synchronization occurs in slow-link mode and other important parameters.
Categories: Management, Performance, Security Tags: cache, event log, Local Group Policy, offline files, Performance, Policies, security, slow link, sync, synchronization
Transparent Caching
Transparent cache is a Windows 7 feature that if enabled allows cached copies of opened files to be kept on a local volume when the source files reside on network resources. This will speed up access to files stored on file servers on remote networks and can make a huge difference in WAN scenarios. In some ways, it is similar to the BranchCache feature but with transparent caching you do not need Windows Server 2008 R2 file servers hosting shared folders and it works on Windows 7 Professional as well, apart from the Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate editions.
Categories: Networking, Performance Tags: access, BranchCache, cache, Local Group Policy, network share, offline files, transparent, WAN
Offline Files Modes of Operation
The Offline Files feature of Windows 7 allows users to locally cache files hosted elsewhere so that these files are available when the computer is unable to connect directly to that network resource. The Offline Files feature in Windows 7 has four modes of operation which are:
Categories: Management Tags: cache, local cache, mode, network error, network fault, offline, online, previous versions, synchronization
Windows 7 Offline Files
The Offline Files feature is only available to users running Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate Editions as it is mainly related to files hosted on shared folders over the network. Offline Files allows you to access files on your mobile computer when you are out of the office or the network is down. This feature allows you to locally cache files hosted elsewhere and work on the locally stored copy when the computer is unable to connect to the original network resource.
Categories: Management, Networking Tags: Always Available, cache, Disk Usage, network resource, offline, offline files, sync, synchronize
Hosted BranchCache Mode
Hosted Cache mode uses a centralized local cache that is hosted on a server running Windows Server 2008 R2. The advantage of Hosted Cache mode over Distributed Cache mode is that the cache is centralized and always available. Parts of the distributed cache on Windows 7 clients become unavailable when the clients hosting them are shut down. Hosted Cache mode requires a computer running Windows Server 2008 R2 be present and configured as follows:
Categories: Performance Tags: BranchCache, cache, distributed, hosted, Server Manager, Windows Server 2008 R2
