Planning VisualDrive Server deployment

This is a guide for an administrator on how to set up VisualDrive Server and allow users to connect to it using the OneDrive app.

It assumes that VisualDrive Server is getting installed onto a computer joined to an Active Directory domain. It also covers how to configure the OneDrive app for client computers that are joined to the same Active Directory domain.

How do I use this guide?

Start from the beginning of the guide and perform steps on each page in sequential order. By the end, you will have a fully operational VisualDrive Server installation, configured according to the recommended practices.

Planning a production deployment

When deploying in a test environment, you can skip this section and go straight to Deployment steps.

Before you install VisualDrive Server in a production environment, perform the following:

1. Plan the storage location

   VisualDrive Server may need to store a significant amount of data, so plan for using an appropriate storage location.

   Learn about storage location requirements 

2. Plan the DNS alias

   You’ll need an appropriate DNS alias to configure the server URL.

   • If you know the expected computer name, you can create the DNS alias in advance.
   • Otherwise, you can create it during the server URL configuration wizard. The wizard includes a diagnostic check to help with the DNS alias configuration.

   Learn about DNS alias requirements 

3. Plan the SSL certificate

   You’ll need a valid and trusted SSL certificate to configure the server URL.

   • If you know the expected DNS name, you can obtain the certificate in advance.
   • Otherwise, you can obtain it during the server URL configuration wizard. The wizard offers an option to get a certificate from Active Directory Certificate Services.

   Learn about SSL certificate requirements 

Deployment steps

The main steps of the deployment procedure are listed below:

1. Install VisualDrive Server
2. Configure server URL
3. Configure group policies:
   • Create the Server Advertisement GPO, targeting the widest possible scope
   • Create the Silent Deployment GPO, targeting a small initial scope
   • Create the Known Folder Move GPO, targeting a small initial scope
   • Gradually expand scope of Silent Deployment and Known Folder Move GPOs
4. Configure roles
5. Configure retention policy
6. Configure quotas