Any Windows profile (local, roaming, and mandatory) can be used in conjunction with Simplify Profiles, although mandatory profiles are recommended. A mandatory profile is a pre-configured, read-only user profile that improves Log On and Off speeds, eliminates corruption, and does not grow in size. These profiles do not provide a personalized environment for users, but Simplify Profiles overcomes those limitations providing the best of both worlds. Simplify Profiles injects the user's personalized settings into the mandatory profile during the Log On process, delivering a efficient, secure, and personalized environment.

triCerat recommends that one mandatory profile to be utilized across the entire farm of terminal servers; however, multiple mandatory profiles can be utilized, from a management standpoint it is much more efficient to manage a single profile.

Reducing Login and Logoff Times

Some quick ways to improve profiles in standard Windows environments are moving away from roaming profiles, logon scripts, and remedial forms of drive mappings. Simplify Profiles' hybrid solution optimizes log on/off performance without compromising the user and application environments. Redirecting folders ensures user shell folders look and act like locally stored personal folders. Common logon scripts rely on Windows commands execute at application level, whereas Simplify File and Registry operations execute at machine level. Simplify Drive Mappings are easy to management and instantly mapped.

Migrating from Roaming Profiles?

Already-configured registry settings such as the data in the roaming profiles (ntuser.dat) and Documents and Settings can be migrated for use with Simplify Profiles. For example, those users with roaming profiles have their environment and applications configured for the roaming profile. Rather than forcing the user to re-create that data for Simplify Profiles, the registry settings can be migrated into the Simplify SQL database using the Simplify Migration Utility, and automatically delivered. This allows administrators to quickly deploy and migrate users to Simplify Profiles. Additionally, the Documents and Settings on the file server(s) hosting the roaming profiles can be redirected using Simplify Profiles. To the users this migration process is seamless, but they instantly benefit from faster Log Ons and Outs. For administrators this will reduce stress and 'Simplify' the implementation process required for Simplify Profiles.

For more information about the Simplify Migrating Utility click here.

Research and RegDiff

Many application and environment customizations delivered by Simplify Profiles are configured through the registry. It maybe unclear as to where settings are in the registry, but you aren't alone... With the Internet there's a growth of knowledge and documents at your disposal. triCerat's RegDiff tool is designed to track changes to the registry. The changes can be configured and integrated into the Simplify Console as Registry Save & Restore, Set, and Delete operations.