FAQ: What Are Known Issues with Non-Local/roaming User Profiles?

Answer

** Internal Publish Only! This article may contain information that is not intended for external circulation. **

ArcGIS Desktop performance degrades significantly when roaming profiles are used. This is not an ArcGIS specific issue but a known problem with all efforts to remotely host user profiles and user data. Each organization must carefully consider the pros and cons of supporting non-local user profiles and user data and determine the best path for their needs and their infrastructure capabilities.
SUPPORT STANCE
Esri does not take an official stance regarding support of Non-Local/Roaming User Profiles. However, since such configurations are not part of the standard sanity testing process they are not officially certified. The expectation (and the proven fact is) that Non-Default/Roaming profiles do function with ArcGIS, provided Microsoft best practices are followed (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc766489(WS.10).aspx).

In the event that an ArcGIS problem is reported which involves or relates to a Non-Local/Roaming User Profile, Esri Support may request the organization test the behavior with a local profile. If the local profile does not exhibit the problem found with the Non-Local/Roaming profile, Esri Support will advise the organization to pursue one of the following solutions:

Seek assistance from their IT staff to resolve the problem
Use Local profiles
Pursue a consultation through Esri Professional Services - Implementation Services

Article ID:000011400

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What are known issues with non-local/roaming user profiles?

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