The Book

Copied from HERE !!!

The ability to map a network drive with Group Policy was introduced in Server 2008. Logon scripts are a thing of the past. Logon scripts can actually slow computers down. Yes, group policy is faster. Unless you have some crazy complex script that does something that Group Policy cannot do then there is no reason not to use it.

Mapping Drives with Group Policy has the following advantages:

• It’s much easier than logon scripts. Checkboxes and drop down lists, no need to understand scripting
• It’s scalable. GPO mapped drives can handle very large Active Directory environments.
• It’s very flexible. With item level targeting you can target groups, users, OUs, operating systems, and so on.
• It’s easy

Now let’s move on to some examples of mapping drives with group policy.

In this example, I’m going to map a network drive for the HR department. I’ll use item level targeting so it only maps this drive for users in the HR organizational unit.

You could also use a Security Group to target a specific group of users. This will map to a network share that only the HR department has access to.

1. Open the Group Policy Management Console

[slija]

2. In the Group Policy Management Console, Right Click and Select “Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here”

TIP: This will be a user based GPO so make sure you link the GPO to a location that will target the users. I have all of my users separated into an OU called ADPRO Users, I’ll create and link the GPO there.

[slija]

3. Name the new GPO

You can name the new GPO whatever you like, I’ve named mine “Users – Mapped Drives

I can later add additional drive mappings to this GPO.

[3]

The new GPO is now created and linked, now it’s time to configure the settings.

1. On the GPO right click and select edit

[4]

2. Navigate to User Configuration → Preferences → Windows Settings → Drive Mappings

[5]

3. Right Click Drive Mappings, Select New – > Mapped Drive

[6]

4. Configure Drive Mapping Properties General Tab Settings

• Unordered List ItemIn location put the path to the share/folder you want to map a drive to.
• Select a drive letter
• Choose Update for action
• Label as: This is optional but may be beneficial for users.

[7]

Common Tab Settings

Select “Run in logged on users’s security context

Select Item-level Targeting

Click the Targeting Button

[8]

Select New Item

Select Organization Unit then select the OU you want to target

[9]

Click OK, Click OK again to close the new drive properties

This completes the GPO settings

For the GPO to run I will need to reboot the users PC or run gpupdate /force. The next time a user from the HR department logs in they should see a mapped drive.

I’ve rebooted the computer, now I’ll log in with an account that is in the HR organizational unit.

[10]

Once logged I will go to file explorer and check for the mapped drive.

[11]

It works.

Now, any user I put in the HR folder will get this mapped drive. If you don’t want to use an OU you can also target a group of users by using a Security group.