Slow logon times can be very frustrating for end users and also indicate issues for IT administrators. There are multiple reasons why users may experience slow logon times, but among the most common are profile loading, slow Group Policy Object (GPO) and script processing, print queue creation for the user, and storage of the virtualization system. IT admins may find workarounds for some of these issues, but there are better solutions to make the logon process more efficient and quick for end users.
One of the top reasons for slow logon times is bloated roaming profiles. Several profile types exist, but roaming profiles are the most common because they stay consistent across servers and individual sessions while maintaining personalized settings. The downside to roaming profiles is they often become bloated and significantly slow the logon process. Roaming profiles take all user information and copy it from the server. The data found on the server is then processed to create a local account for when a user logs onto a desktop. The delayed logon process is generally due to the number of files, larger file sizes, or a large registry file. The copy process quickly compounds when multiple users log onto a shared virtual server as the network processes many files simultaneously.
Tricerat's solution, ScrewDrivers®, solves the issue of slow logons for profile loading. Tricerat's patented technology uses a slimmed-down local or mandatory profile while keeping user customizations and personal settings in your environment. This method results in a much faster logon process, but the user can still access personal settings. The database even allows user profiles to be optimized and delivered with their personalized settings.
Another issue contributing to slow logon times for users is often the processing of GPOs and scripts. GPOs can be difficult for admins to keep track of, and they can quickly become bulky. The processing of GPOs and scripts upon logon can significantly add to wait times, especially when many GPOs or scripts are in place for a user. This process involves copying the policies from the domain controller, parsing each file, and applying the settings to the session. At scale, these complexities can add valuable seconds to the logon process for each user.
Tricerat can help eliminate GPOs and scripting with ScrewDrivers. During user logons, the user's settings will populate from a record that processes simple database queries. This method is much quicker than loading bulky scripts or numerous GPOs. Admins can more easily manage the settings per object and assign settings as a drag-and-drop operation to users and groups. Custom user settings from the session can also load into the database for quick operations at both logon and logoff.
The printer mapping process during the user logon can also contribute to a delay in the desktop or application loading. When using Windows printers, the network printers will download and install the print driver and then connect to the printer. This process is iterated for the number of printers and often slows down the perceived logon time for the user. When utilizing Citrix printers, the printing policies and the print queues process while the user waits.
ScrewDrivers solves these problems by using several methods. First, printers are built asynchronously with the logon process, allowing the desktop or application to load while building the printers. Printers appear in the session shortly after the applications load without the user experiencing a delay. ScrewDrivers also uses database queries to determine what printers must be created for the user, offering the fastest possible processing. Finally, the only required driver is already loaded on the system, drastically reducing any time needed to copy and load the driver. Every print queue utilizes this single print driver creating a streamlined process.
The Windows logon process is complex and is usually frustrating for end users with long wait times. Contributing to these long wait times are very often profile loading, GPO and script processing, print queue creation, and sometimes the storage and virtualization infrastructure. Tricerat's ScrewDrivers optimizes the logon process and provides a more efficient alternative to the built-in Windows methods. By utilizing these solutions, administrators gain more control over the user logon process and improve the performance experience for end users.
