Offline files - remain disconnected after connecting VPN
We have configured folder redirection with offline files (Vista). Whileworking with the company network either wired or wireless the transitions between connected/disconnectedare functioning fine. When connected working via a home network via VPN the folders remain disconnected and I can't figure out how to work online with these folders (I can access the servers). How does Vista detect the connected state and is there way to force the connection state (there is no "work offline"/"work online" icon when connected via VPN).
December 3rd, 2008 7:12am

Hi, Firstly, may I know if you have checked if the Offline status of the folder and what is it? Regarding the issue, please refer to the following: 1. The online/offline status of a given cached item can be easily observed in Windows Explorer. Open an Explorer folder for the directory containing the file and then highlight it. In the Preview pane of Explorer, inspect the value of the Offline Status property. Generally, it should be one of the following 1) Online The item is online. 2) Offline (not connected) Client is disconnected from the network or the server/share is unavailable. Once the server/share becomes available or the client computer is reconnected to the network, the item should automatically transition online. If it does not, check share permissions. User must have at least READ permission to the shared folder on the server to transition online. 3) Offline (working offline) User has selected the Work offline button in Explorer. This state is persistent across system restarts. The entire scope is offline. The item is transitioned online when the Work online button is selected. 4) Offline (need to sync) Item is offline due to unsynchronized local changes. Often means a sync conflict needs to be resolved. Once the item is synchronized with the server, it automatically transitions online. 5) Offline (slow connection) Item is offline because the connection used to access that item is considered slow. The entire scope is offline. The scope is transitioned online when the user selects the Work online button in Explorer. When Work online is selected, the scope remains online until a slow connection check is again performed by the CSC service. That time period is approximately 5 minutes by default but may be adjusted through the Network page in the Offline Files Control Panel applet. 6) Offline (always) The item has been suspended using the Offline Files API. To transition online, the item must be un-suspended using the API. 2. As you connect to your company's network via VPN, I suspect that the status may be recognized as "Slow Connection". If so, the following may be helpful. Through Group Policy administrators may configure Windows Vista clients to automatically transition a scope offline whenever the connection to that scope is found to be slow. The decision of slow or not slow is based on one or more of the following network performance parameters for the applicable connection: 1) Throughput The maximum number of bits per second through the connection. 2) Latency The minimum time period between a transmission to the server and a response from that server expressed in milliseconds. 3) The "Configure slow-link mode" policy setting (see below). 3. The following are two policy settings that control the offline file slow-link mode and speed: Path: Computer Policy\Administrative Templates\Network\Offline Files Policies: Configure slow-link mode Configure slow-link speed The settings of slow-link mode and speed are global to the client. 4. Actually, it is not recommended to adjust the above settings. In a slow-link environment, it is better to use the cached folders/files as "Offline (slow connection)". Therefore, I would like to suggest that you do not adjust the default settings. 5. For more information about the Offline Files in Windows Vista, please also refer to the following documents: Changes to Offline Files in Windows Vista http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc137753.aspx Understanding offline files http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/93a550df-34cd-4497-85d0-8732602f59591033.mspx Hope this helps. Thanks!
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December 5th, 2008 6:22am

Is there not a way to force the "offline" file to go "online?" I can make the drive, I have read access, I am connected to the VPN, but for some reason Windows7 will not attempt to connect. Isn't there some way to force a connection? Thats all everybody wants.
November 29th, 2010 4:26pm

I have the same problem. The status reports "Offline (not connected)", yet I can bring up another explorer window and connect directly to the same folder. So, clearly, and I am connected, it's just that Offline Files doesn't know that. Thanks, James
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January 3rd, 2011 2:55pm

Same issue here with several Vista Business & Windows 7 Pro client, connected to a SBS 2003 via VPN. Has anyone got a resolution to this issue yet?
April 18th, 2011 12:24am

Try changing the address to start with https://... instead of http://
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January 29th, 2012 1:27pm

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