Mike here again to help bring clarity to something we are seeing with Windows Server 2008 R2 and existing Group Policy central store. Before that discussion, let us cover some background information.

ADMX Files and the Group Policy Central Store

Microsoft introduced the ADMX file format with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. This XML-based file format replaced the token-based ADM file format used by earlier versions of Windows to define administrative templates. Group Policy uses administrative templates to represent registry-based policy settings that appear when editing Group Policy. The content included in administrative templates describes the user interface used by Group Policy editors and registry locations where Windows stores policy settings. Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 provide a new set of administrative template files in the ADMX format.

Ask the Directory Services Team : Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and the Group Policy Central Store

Are your file servers full of stale data slowing down your backups and taking up valuable space? Do you have no time to figure out how to deal with it or which piece of software you need to buy to do it for you? In Windows Server 2008 R2, this is a 5 minute job and requires no extra software.

The File Server Resource Manager (FSRM) has long been a tool to help IT administrators manage their storage allocations. In Windows Server 2008 R2, FSRM has become even more powerful with the addition of File Management Tasks. Simply setup the FSRM Role Service (part of the File Server Role) and navigate to FSRM’s File Management Task section.

The Storage Team at Microsoft – File Cabinet Blog : Dealing with stale data on File Servers

I wanted to call your attention to four new blog posts this morning from Nir Ben Zvi (Senior Program Manager Lead, Microsoft File Server Team) and Matthias Wollnik (Program Manager, Microsoft File Server Team) introducing the Windows Server 2008 R2 File Classification Infrastructure (FCI). This new Windows feature, highlighted in today’s keynote during TechEd 2009, allows you to define classification properties, automatically classify files, automate file management tasks (like file expiration) and generate reports that show the distribution of these properties on the file server. The File Classification Infrastructure also provides a great opportunity for partners to extend these out-of-the-box abilities, including the possibility of seamless integration of multiple partner solutions.

Check all the details at:

• Windows Server 2008 R2 File Classification Infrastructure – Managing data based on business value
  http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/archive/2009/05/11/windows-server-2008-r2-file-classification-infrastructure-managing-data-based-on-business-value.aspx
• Classifying files based on location and content using the File Classification Infrastructure (FCI) in Windows Server 2008 R2
  http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/archive/2009/05/11/classifying-files-based-on-location-and-content-using-the-file-classification-infrastructure-fci-in-windows-server-2008-r2.aspx
• Dealing with stale data on File Servers
  http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/archive/2009/05/11/dealing-with-stale-data-on-file-servers.aspx
• Customizing File Management Tasks
  http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/archive/2009/05/11/customizing-file-management-tasks.aspx

If you are attending TechEd 2009, be sure to pay Nir and Matthias a visit in the File Services booth, attend the session "WSV329 – Managing Cost and Mitigating Risk on File Servers" on Thursday at 4:30 PM and check the hands-on lab "WSV13-HOL – How to Reduce Cost and Risk on File Servers Using the New File Classification Infrastructure".

Jose Barreto’s Blog : Windows Server 2008 R2 File Classification Infrastructure (FCI) at TechEd 2009