FSLogix Office 365 Container – Install, Configure and Testing

Following on FSLogix Office365 Containers to the rescue! article, the following documents the installation/configuration. In the below examples we are using a XenApp Windows Server 2016 Server when performing the tests.

Preparation

Step 1: Create FileShare for VHDX Container Stores (recommended to be a Highly available) with the following NTFS folder permissions

Share permissions  should be as follows:

User Account	Folder	Permissions
Everyone	This Directory Only	Modify

In my example i have created “O365Container” share on LAB-DC1 Server for the purpose of this LAB but would be recommended to be a dedicated environment on production environment.

Step 2: In the Source Media (FSLogix_Apps_2.8.6324.41468) contains the Group Policy templates required for FSLogix Office 365 Containers.

Step 3: Copy the templates to the Group Policy Policy folders

• FsLogixODFC.adm to C:\Windows\PolicyDefinition\en-US (Local) or %logonserver%\sysvol\%userdnsdomain%\policies\PolicyDefinitions\en-US for (Central GPO Store)
• FsLogixODFC.admx to C:\Windows\PolicyDefinition (Local) or %logonserver%\sysvol\%userdnsdomain%\policies\PolicyDefinitions (Central GPO Store)

Step 4: Open Group Policy Management

Step 5: Create a new GPO (or existing) that will be used to apply the FSLogix Configuration to the necessary Computer Accounts

Step 6: Expand Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates and confirm FSLogix Folder exists.

Step 7: Set the following Group Policy Settings

• FSLogix\Office 365 Container – Enable = Option Enabled
• FSLogix\Office 365 Container –Sync OST to VHD =  Option Enabled
• FSLogix\Office 365 Container – VHD Location = VHD Location : \\LAB-DC1\O365Container
• FSLogix\Office 365 Container\Advanced – Swap Directory name components =  Tick Swap Directory name components
• FSLogix\Office 365 Container\Advanced – Virtual Disk Type =  VHDX

List of other configurable GPO Setting can be found here

Install Agent

Step 1: The Source Media (FSLogix_Apps_2.8.6324.41468) contains the 32bit (Win32) and 64-bit (x64) installation files required.

Step 2: Open x64\Release folder

Step 3: Right Click “FSLogixAppsSetup” and Run as administrator

Step 3: The Setup will launch to the following screen

Step 4: Tick i agree to the license terms and conditions then click Install

Step 5: Installation will begin

Step 6: Installation will complete, Click Close

Step 7: Reboot the Device and Login to Device as Test User (in this example ctxuser1)

Step 8: Reviewing the file share created in Step1, you see a folder created in format of %USERNAME%_USERSID

Step 9: Reviewing the folder you’ll see the VHDX created in format of ODFC_%USERNAME%

Step 10: Reviewing the Disk Management you’ll see the VHDX Mounted for the user logged in the format of O365-%USERNAME%

Step 11:  Confirm the Local Groups are created by reviewing the Local Users and Groups in Computer Management.

This can be adjusted to include/exclude Users from FSLogix applying such as excluding  Local Administrator. NOTE: Exclude List will overwrite the include List if a User appears in both.

Generally it would be best practise to remove the EVERYONE group and add a Domain Group as well as controlling the group membership of the groups by Restricted groups in Group Policy

Step 11: Add the following registry key to allow concurrent user sessions (required for XenApp Hosted Shared Desktop)

HKLM\Software\Policies\FSLogix
ConcurrentUserSessions:dword=1

Step 12: Add the following registry key to allow  Windows Search (Outlook Indexing/Search Only)

HKLM\Software\Policies\FSLogix
RoamSearch:dword=1

Step 13: The following folders should be excluded from being captured as part of profile solution:

OneDrive

• %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive
• %USERPROFILE%\OneDrive – <TenantName>

Outlook

• %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

Setup OneDrive for Business & Outlook Fully Cached

Step 1: Open OneDrive Application , if being used for the first time there is “preparing OneDrive for first use…”

Step 2: The Set up OneDrive screen will appear

Step 3: Enter your Office365 username, click Sign In

Step 4: Enter the password for the Office365 accounts.

Step 5: Signing in message will appear…

Step 6: This is your OneDrive folder will appear, by default it will default to %USERPROFILE%\OneDrive – <tenant> . Click Next

Step 7: Select the appropriate folders that are required to be sync’d. In my example it will be Photos\2010. Click Next

Step 8: The OneDrive is now then ready for use.

Step 9: The sync of data will begin at this stage to the %USERPROFILE%\OneDrive – WilkyIT , reviewing the VHD/VHDX you’ll see the size increase.

Step 10: Open Microsoft Outlook , Click Next to begin setup of profile

Step 11: Select Yes to setup Outlook e-mail account. Click Next

Step 12: Enter the appropriate details to setup the Office 365 account in outlook. Then click Next

• Your Name: in my case WilkyIT
• e-mail address: david@wilkyit.com
• Password: password for the account.

Step 13: Establishing Connection, Search for the Outlook setting and logging on to the mail server will begin

Step 14: After successful setup, ensure “change account settings” is ticked and click Next

Step 15: Ensure that “Use cached exchange mode” is ticked and click Finish

NOTE: See the following article for mixing online mode as a failback if VHD does not attach.

http://blog.fslogix.com/how-to-mix-fslogix-office-365-containers-and-online-mode-in-non-persistent-citrix-environments?es_p=554618

 

Step 16: E-mail will begin to be downloaded into the OST file contained in %USERPROFILE%\Appdata\Local\Microsoft\Outlook. This is indicaed by outlook status bar showing “updating this folder

Step 17: After mailbox full caching is complete , All folders are up to date will indicate this.

Step 18: Outlook mail will be fully ready for use.

Testing

Step 1: Logoff the Session, reviewing the profile (in this example the no data is contained in the %USERPROFILE%\Appdata\Local\Microsoft\Outlook or does not exist because it has been excluded for being saved by the profile manager (UPM/Appsense etc).

 

Step 2: Upon login to another XenApp/Windows Server 2016 Server and accessing OneDrive you see it beginning to perform a Sync check (blue arrows) for new files/changes

Step 3: But within a few seconds the folder will change to a green tick to indicate no new change/sync complete.

Step 4: Upon launch of Outlook, the mailbox immediately appears will “all folders are update to date” disappearing pretty much instantly to indicate OST being accessed and a quick check for new mail on the Office365 exchange.

Useful Info:

Log Location for Agent = C:\ProgramData\FSLogix\ODFC

The log will indicate the setting being read/applied by GPO, the VHD being found for the user , VHD’s  being mounted to the specific folder of Office365