Windows 8 : Managing BitLocker and other policy-based mobility tools (part 5) - Configuring offline file synchronization, Configuring policy settings for device power

Configuring offline file synchronization

When offline files are enabled, other settings also need to be configured to enable the files to synchronize. Because a number of services are available that Windows 8 can synchronize with, the settings have been placed in Control Panel under a Sync Options heading. Selecting this option displays all the items the computer can currently synchronize with. If nothing has been configured to synchronize, no items are displayed. Figure 4 displays the Sync Center in Windows 8.

Figure 4. Managing the services or files that synchronize with a computer

Because offline files require the synchronization of items between the network and the local computer, they are also managed in Sync Center. Selecting Manage Offline Files from the navigation pane on the left side of the Sync Center displays the Offline Files dialog box shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Configuring Offline Files

The Offline Files dialog box has the following tabs and features available for configuration:

• General

  • Enable (or Disable) Offline Files

  • Open Sync Center

  • View Your Offline Files

• Disk Usage

  • All Offline Files Shows the amount of disk space being consumed by files available offline

  • Temporary Files Shows the amount of disk space used by temporary files

  • Change Limits Opens the Offline Files Disk Usage Limits dialog box, which enables disk space for offline files and temporary files to be controlled

  • Delete Temporary Files Removes temporary files from the computer

• Encryption

  • Encrypt Encrypts offline files and new files as they are taken offline

  • Decrypt Decrypts offline files

• Network

  • On Slow Connections, Automatically Work Offline

  • Check For A Slow Connection Every 5 Minutes

These settings allow the files that will be available offline to be selected and managed on the remote computer. Policy settings described earlier might disable or control some of these settings when the two groups of settings are used together.

Configuring policy settings for device power

As more devices become portable or mobile and can support an operating system such as Windows 8, the amount of configuration for Windows available through policy will likely grow as new features become available. In Windows 8, a number of power management settings are available to help centrally manage the actions taken with regard to power. One useful feature can ensure that Windows restarts when certain actions are taken; for example, when the user accounts within a certain organizational unit log off. If the computer used by one of these employees is not restarted very often and some updates require a restart, this can ensure that the computer receives updates during restart.

The configurable policy options for power management include the following:

• Button settings

  • Select The Power Button Action (Plugged In)

  • Select The Sleep Button Action (Plugged In)

  • Select The Start Menu Power Button Action (Plugged In)

  • Select The Lid Switch Action (Plugged In)

  • Select The Power Button Action (On Battery)

  • Select The Sleep Button Action (On Battery)

  • Select The Start Menu Power Button Action (On Battery)

  • Select The Lid Switch Action (On Battery)

• Hard disk settings

  • Turn Off The Hard Disk (Plugged In)

  • Turn Off The Hard Disk (On Battery)

• Notification settings

  • Critical Battery Notification Action

  • Low Battery Notification Action

  • Critical Battery Notification Level

  • Turn Off Low Battery User Notification

  • Low Battery Notification Level

  • Reserve Battery Notification Level

• Sleep settings

  • Turn On The Ability For Applications To Prevent Sleep Transitions (Plugged In)

  • Turn On The Ability For Applications To Prevent Sleep Transitions (On Battery)

  • Specify The System Hibernate Timeout (Plugged In)

  • Specify The System Hibernate Timeout (On Battery)

  • Require A Password When A Computer Wakes (Plugged In)

  • Require A Password When A Computer Wakes (On Battery)

  • Specify The System Sleep Timeout (Plugged In)

  • Specify The System Sleep Timeout (On Battery)

  • Turn Off Hybrid Sleep (Plugged In)

  • Turn Off Hybrid Sleep (On Battery)

  • Allow Standby States (S1-S3) When Sleeping (Plugged In)

  • Allow Standby States (S1-S3) When Sleeping (On Battery)

  • Allow Applications To Prevent Automatic Sleep (Plugged In)

  • Allow Applications To Prevent Automatic Sleep (On Battery)

  • Specify The Unattended Sleep Timeout (Plugged In)

  • Specify The Unattended Sleep Timeout (On Battery)

• Video and display settings

  • Specify The Display Dim Brightness (Plugged In)

  • Specify The Display Dim Brightness (On Battery)

  • Reduce Display Brightness (Plugged In)

  • Reduce Display Brightness (On Battery)

  • Turn On Desktop Background Slideshow (Plugged In)

  • Turn On Desktop Background Slideshow (On Battery)

  • Turn Off Adaptive Display Timeout (Plugged In)

  • Turn Off Adaptive Display Timeout (On Battery)

  • Turn Off The Display (Plugged In)

  • Turn Off The Display (On Battery)

  • Specify A Current Active Power Plan

  • Select An Active Power Plan

To configure power management policy objects, complete the following steps:

1. Launch the Local Group Policy Editor by searching for gpedit.msc on the Start screen or typing gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box (Windows logo key+R).

2. Expand the Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Power Management path.

3. Double-tap or double-click the policy object you want to work with.

4. Select Enabled.

5. Configure other options, if available, as needed for your organization.

6. Document the changes within the object’s comments dialog box.

7. Tap or click OK to save the changes for the setting.