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Deploying SMB client-based services

You can deploy a number of SMB/CIFS client-based services, such as accessing files in Snapshot copies using the Previous Versions Windows Properties tab; and configuring offline folders, roaming profiles, and folder redirection.

  • Using offline files to allow caching of files for offline use
    ONTAP supports the Microsoft Offline Files feature, or client-side caching, which allows files to be cached on the local host for offline use. Users can use the offline files functionality to continue working on files even when they are disconnected from the network.
  • Using roaming profiles to store user profiles centrally on a CIFS server associated with the SVM
    ONTAP supports storing Windows roaming profiles on a CIFS server associated with the storage virtual machine (SVM). Configuring user roaming profiles provides advantages to the user such as automatic resource availability regardless of where the user logs in. Roaming profiles also simplify the administration and management of user profiles.
  • Using folder redirection to store data on a CIFS server
    ONTAP supports Microsoft folder redirection, which enables users or administrators to redirect the path of a local folder to a location on the CIFS server. It appears as if redirected folders are stored on the local Windows client, even though the data is stored on an SMB share.
  • How to access the ~snapshot directory from Windows clients using SMB 2.x
    The method that you use to access the ~snapshot directory from Windows clients using SMB 2.x differs from the method used for SMB 1.0. You need to understand how to access the ~snapshot directory when using SMB 2.x connections to successfully access data stored in Snapshot copies.
  • Recovering files and folders using Previous Versions
    The ability to use Microsoft Previous Versions is applicable to file systems that support Snapshot copies in some form and have them enabled. Snapshot technology is an integral part of ONTAP. Users can recover files and folders from Snapshot copies from their Windows client by using the Microsoft Previous Versions feature.