In this mode, when the user logs on, the users list of gpos is typically gathered by using the getgpolist function. Configure user group policy loopback processing mode. Accordingly, the computer policy is applied to the computer despite of the logged user and the user configuration is applied to the user despite of the computer he is logged on. If you have a single site and a small domain, you probably have full control over all group policy settings in the domain including the ability to create and make changes to computer. Via user group policy loopback processing, of course. This policy setting directs the system to apply the set of group policy objects for the computer to any user who logs on to a computer affected by this setting. How to enable group policy loopback processing jorge. Group policy loopback problems and solutions policypak. Loopback processing allows the administrator to apply user group policy settings based on where the computer accounts are located rather than basing it on the user account.
On a test client, im going to run a manual group policy update by running. Group policy loopback processing merge mode merge mode supplements the policy that is assigned to the user instead of completely replacing it like in replace mode. Prevent user logon script from running solutions experts. I have to mention that the loopback processing of group policy has two different modes, replace and merge. In active directory, what is gpo loopback processing. Merge mode in this mode, when the user logs on, the users list of gpos is typically gathered by. If the settings conflict, the user settings in the computers gpo take precedence over the users normal settings. Furthermore, group policy loopback processing has two modes. Loopback processing for cirtrix environment presentation. Loopback processing allows the administrator to apply user. Loopback group policy with security filteringnethack. Locate the setting user group policy loopback processing mode. In this video, learn how to use the loopback processing gpo setting.
In the computer configuration, set the loopback processing mode to merge. It is intended for specialuse computers such as those in public places laboratories and classrooms where you must modify the user setting based on the computer that is being used. What the actual resulting policy settings will be depends on the user that logs on. Loopback policy processing debug series merge mode cb5. This is an informational event that indicates that group policy loopback processing works only if the computer and user objects are in either a windows 2000 or windows server 2003 domain. If youre using loopback in merge mode, you know user configuration is processed twice. Deployhappiness questions about loopback policy processing. Configure user group policy loopback processing mode enabled, either merge or replace depending on the desired result user group policy loopback processing mode changes in windows server 2008 r2.
This post is part 2 of a 3 part series where we are examining the debug output for each policy processing mode. Group policy loopback processing comes into play if you want to assign user policies to computer objects. However in this case, user policy is linked to the computer ou. Using loopback processing to configure user settings. Loopback processing is configured via the following setting.
As you probably know, loopback processing is a feature of active directory group policies which applies user settings in a gpo to any user who logs on to computers in the gpos scope whereas the standard behavior would be to apply user settings only if the user account is actually located whithin the gpos scope. Merge indicates that the user settings defined in the computers group policy objects and the user settings normally applied to the user are combined. To make user configuration settings that usually apply to a computer apply to all of the users that log in to that computer, enable loopback processing. Group policy loopback processing policy has two modes. When loopback is set to merge mode, user side settings that are linked to computer objects are interwoven with the users normal rsop. Windows cannot do loopback processing for downlevel or. It does not actually apply to computer objects but it applies to all users that logon to a certain computer object. In the dropdown box next to mode, select merge, and click ok to exit the property page.
You need to run the group policy modeling wizard, and create two reports. You can set the loopback policy in the group policy object editor snapin by using the user group policy loopback processing mode policy setting under computer settings\administrative settings\system\group policy. When merge mode is selected, application of userbased group policy begins as normal. We urge all loopback 3 users to migrate their applications to loopback 4. With loopback enabled, any user setting at the computer gpo is applied, doesnt matter if it is merge or replace. Now we are finally going to learn about user group policy loopback processing mode. This is useful when you want all users logging on to a specific computer to.
User settings get ignored, and the computer settings apply as if a user was logging on. Merge says, first apply the users normal user policies as if they were logging into their normal workstation then apply the loopback user settings. Gpos that apply to the computer account are processed second and therefore take precedence if a. Heres loopback policy with merge mode enabled on the same user and computer. Prerequisites create gpos for the view component group policy settings and link them to the ou that contains your view machines. We cant predict what the impact will be from changing merge to replace. Next, assign user policies to the computer in addition to the computer polices, you would normally assign. Demystifying loopback policy processing cb5 solutions llc. When configuring the policy loopback processing mode, you can choose two different options, replace and merge. With the group policy loopback support feature, you can specify two other ways to retrieve the list of gpos for any user of the computers in this specific organizational unit. The basic process to create and authenticate users is. Click ok to close the dialog box, then close the group policy. Enable loopback processing for remote desktops vmware docs. Understanding group policy loopback processing experts.
Now, enable user group policy loopback processing mode and choose merge as mode. If the user has no permissions to apply the loopbackpolicies, the users normal group policies will be applied. Normally, user policy is linked to the user ou and will be applied regardless of which computer the user is signed in. Double click this setting, and define the setting as needed. That is, the computer configuration based on where the computer account is located in active directory and user configuration based on where the user. Merge mode in this mode, the list of gpos for the user is gathered during the logon process. Consider looking into itemlevel targeting or wmi queries. Once group policy sees that setting it either ignores user gpos completely or sticks computer gpos back on the processing list of user gpos to override user gpos. Make sure the vda computer accounts have read access to the loopback user gpos, even if those gpos only contain user settings. A few words about loopback processing of group policy. Group policy loopback merge when merge mode is enabled, group policy is first applied like it would be normally. One is merge mode that will still allow other user gpos to apply or there is replace mode that only applies the user policies of the gpo you have the loopback processing turned on for. Group policy loopback problems and solutions security boulevard.
Loopback processing of group policy confessions of an it. Computer configuration\polices\administrative templates\system\group policy\user group policy loopback processing mode this setting can be configured for merge. How to bypass gpo loopback processing for some users. When merge mode is enabled, group policy is first applied like it would be normally. Merge mode supplements the policy that is assigned to the user instead of completely replacing it like in replace mode. Merge, the user policy settings applied are the combination of those included in. Windows cannot do loopback processing for downlevel or local users. Replace says, just apply the loopback user settings. One that has loopback with merge, and one that has loopback with replace. When you enable loopback policy processing, you add a third phase to group policy processing. User group policy loopback processing is the magic word that gives the possibility to assign user policy settings to computer objects. In the details pane, doubleclick the user group policy loopback processing mode policy. Once for the actual user and after that, once for the machine with the users hat on. A detailed explanation of how loopback processing works.
Loopback takes a lot of the flexibility of group policy and throws it out of the window, id strongly advise against it. Below is an example of how to implement group policy loopback processing within a group policy object. It is obvious that replace mode replaces user configuration with the one applied to the computer, whereas merge mode merges two user. So really you could do it either way depending on which mode you use. Using group policy management console, edit the gpo you desire, expand computer configuration\ policies \ administrative templates \system\ group policy, and then doubleclick user group policy loopback processing mode. In the right pane, doubleclick user group policy loopback processing mode. Loopback processing allows the administrator to apply user group policy settings based. Merge mode will apply the user settings that apply to any users logging on to a machine applying loopback processing as normal and then will apply the user settings that apply to the computer account. Computer configuration policies administrative templates system group policy. Then select the appropriate option replace or merge. User group policy loopback processing mode userpolicymode file01. Group policy computer settings for vdas carl stalhood. Understanding group policy processing techrepublic.
Loopback processing runs in merge or replace mode merge mode gathers the from cmit 369 at university of maryland. The actual loopback setting is under computer configuration administrative templates system group policy user group policy loopback processing mode it is helpful to pay attention to the precedence of gpo i. It is obvious that replace mode replaces user configuration with the one applied to the computer, whereas merge mode merges two user configurations. Automatically log off idle users in windows 4sysops. User settings process first, and the computer settings are applied as if a user was logging on again. Loopback processing runs in merge or replace mode merge. Loopback processing allows the administrator to apply user group policy settings based on where the computer accounts. Merge in this mode, the user policy settings defined in the computers gpo and user settings normally applied to the user are combined. Group policy loopback processing aimless ramblings from. Loopback processing of group policy microsoft support. Configure user group policy loopback processing mode to merge. This policy directs the system to apply the set of gpos for the computer to any user who logs on to a computer affected by this policy. For the love of physics walter lewin may 16, 2011 duration. Gpo loopback processing is a mechanism that allows user policy to takes effect only on certain computers.
When configured, it will apply group policies in user configuration to any ad user that logs into the machines under this ou. For more information regarding loopback processing, see article 231287 in microsofts. This mode is great when you have user side settings but you dont know where your user will log in. If you want to know more about group policy loopback processing. Loopback processing is a group policy that can be configured in the ou level where the computer accounts exists, but the ad users do not. In merge mode, both gpos applying to the user account and gpos applying to the computer account are processed when a user logs in. Replace indicates that the user settings defined in the computers group policy objects replace the user settings normally applied to the user.
If you want to completely replace the users policy, you can use replace, but for most cases, merge should be fine. To set user configuration per computer, follow these steps. Merge indicates that the user settings defined in the computers group policy objects and the user settings normally applied. A computer starts up and applies the computer portion of the policies that apply to the computer object through the layers of the ou structure where the computer resides. When configuring the policy loopback processing mode, you can choose. In the user group policy loopback processing mode dialog box, click enabled.
In the group policy management editor, navigate to computer configuration policies administrative templates. Loopback 3 has entered maintenance longterm support lts, only critical bugs and critical security fixes will be provided. Doubleclick user group policy loopback processing mode, select enabled, then select either merge or replace from the dropdown list. Typically replace is used to enforce user settings at the ou where the computer resides. This feature is especially useful in large organizations. User configuration the configuration created in gpo linked to ousupport.
Locate administrative templates, click system, click group policy, and then enable the loopback policy option. In the group policy microsoft management console mmc, click computer configuration locate administrative templates, click system, click group policy, and then enable the loopback policy option this policy directs the system to apply the set of gpos for the computer to any user who logs on to a computer affected by this policy. As we know group policy has two main configurations, user and computer. I am using loopback processing mode on a group policy to run a script entered into the computer configurationwindows settingsscriptsstartup for any user that logs onto the computer regardless of their group membership. How to lock a terminal server down without impacting.