Group Policy Preferences

| |
An Overview of Group Policy Preferences
By Jerry Honeycutt
Published November 2007
Abstract
Group Policy preferences enable IT professionals to configure, deploy, and manage operating system and application settings they previously were not able to manage using Group Policy. Examples include mapped drives, scheduled tasks, and Start menu settings. For many types of settings, using GroupPolicy preferences is a better alternative to configuring them in Windows images or using logon scripts. This white paper introduces this new Microsoft® Windows Server® 2008 feature, and describes how you can use Group Policy preferences to better deploy and manage computer and user preferences.

The information contained in this document represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation onthe issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication.
This white paper is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INTHIS DOCUMENT.
Complying with all applicable copyright laws is the responsibility of the user. Without limiting the rights under copyright, no part of this document may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), or for any purpose, without the express written permissionof Microsoft Corporation.
Microsoft may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except as expressly provided in any written license agreement from Microsoft, the furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property.
©2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Active Directory, Windows, Windows Server, Windows Vista, and the Windows logo and are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Microsoft Corporation • OneMicrosoft Way • Redmond, WA 98052-6399 • USA
Contents
Contents 2
Overview 3
Preferences vs. Policy Settings 4
Group Policy Preference Items 7
Windows Settings 8
Control Panel Settings 11
Group Policy Preferences Features 17
Common Options 17
Targeting Control 18
Process Variables 20
Settings Report 22
Deploying Group Policy Preferences 23
Windows Deployment Strategies 24
Thick Imaging25
Thin Imaging 25
Benefits of Group Policy Preferences 27
Summary 29
Glossary 30
Overview
During your career as an IT professional, you’ve likely mapped network drives for users. You probably configured them using logon scripts. This required you to write and debug the logon script, store the script in a central location, and then run the script by configuring User objects in ActiveDirectory® directory service or by creating a Group Policy object (GPO). Think about all the other settings you’ve configured using logon scripts or similar methods. A simple, central system to configure and deploy these settings without requiring you to make scattered changes that are easily forgotten and seldom documented would certainly help reduce costs and make your job easier, wouldn’t it?Organizations typically deploy two types of settings: managed and unmanaged. Managed settings are policy settings that you enforce. You don’t allow users to change policy settings. Policy settings reduce support costs by enforcing standard configurations, help prevent productivity loss, and protect an organization’s assets. Group Policy is the best technology for delivering policy settings to computers...