New Features of Windows 2000. Continued...


Continuing on the main features of Windows 2000-- in this article, we'll have a look at IntelliMirror.

IntelliMirror: It is a new feature of Windows 2000 which has 3 main sub-features:

-- User Settings Management -- User Document Management -- Software Installation

User Settings Management: This is similiar to policies and roaming profiles under NT 4.0. You, as the administrator, can place settings (restrictions) on the user's (or group's) Desktop, Control Panel, Network, Printers, etc. After the settings are set, it is fixed unless changed by the administrator again. Also, when the user moves from computer to computer within the network, their setting will follow them (mirror their movement).

User Document Management: Windows 2000 has a new, default folder(directory) called "My Document" placed on the desktop at boot-up. This folder, "My Document", is by default, used to store files (data) created from various applications (ie. Word, Excel, IE, etc.). With this IntelliMirror feature, you can configure a roaming profile and all information stored in the user's "My Document" folder will be "mirrored" to the network; from whichever computer the user logs on from, they can access the data stored in their "My Document" folder. Basically, the "mirrored" data from the user's "My Document" can be stored on any computer or server on the network.

Another feature of user document management is the ability to "Work Offline", either from the Internet/Intranet or the network in general. When the network, or the user is off the Internet, then they can still work on their files IF it has been cached locally. This can be useful if the network is down.

Software Installation: One of the hurdles network administrators face is the ability to upgrade software to different users across the network. With the software installation feature of IntelliMirror, an administrator can "assign" and "publish" applications to users. When you "assign" an application, that particular application will be installed on the user's desktop after logon. When you "publish" an application to a user's Active Desktop, then the user has the option of installing it from the "Add/Remove" applet on the Control Panel.

Please keep in mind, in order to use the IntelliMirror feature, your client AND server must both be running Windows 2000.

Happy certification to all.

The copyright of the article New Features of Windows 2000. Continued... in Microsoft Certification is owned by Larry Williams. Permission to republish New Features of Windows 2000. Continued... in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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