Group Policy Offers New Functionality in Windows Server 2008

Group Policy Objects can be used to apply settings to client computers from a central location. This article lists the new functionality added to the Group Policy in Windows Server 2008. This article doesn't explain the features in the detail.

• XML-based policy template files are used now (ADMX and ADML).
• Central Stores are used to reduce the disk space.
• ADMX and ADML are not stored in each GPO now
• Local GPO Store Location is:

1. ADM=%SystemRoot\INF
2. ADMX=%SystemRoot%\PolicyDefinitions,
3. ADML=%SystemRoot%\PolicyDefinitions\EN-US
   • GPEditor and GPMC don't copy ADM and ADMX files to SYSVOL now
   • GPEditor and GPMC reads from the CentralStore in SYSVOL now
   • Central Store is not available by default. You must create the Central Store
   • Domain Central Store Location is:
   1. %SystemRoot%\SYSVOL\Domain\policies\PolicyDefinitions (ADMX)
   2. %SystemRoot%\SYSVOL\Domain\policies\PolicyDefinitions\en-us (ADML)
   • Search for GPOs using GPMC
   • StarterGPO feature makes you import/export GPO settings quickly across domains
   • More than 20 GPOs Extensions are provided for Preferences.
   • Preferences contains the two major Extensions:
   1. Windows Settings
   2. Control Panel