RSSMicrosoft: Removal of Group Policy Tool from Vista 'Not Significant'
By Scott M. Fulton, III | Published September 5, 2007, 9:55 AM
As part of a request to help modify its apparent stance on the upcoming removal of Group Policy Management Console from Microsoft's Windows Vista Service Pack 1, a company spokesperson told BetaNews, "The removal of the GPMC tool with Service Pack 1 is not significant to the majority of Windows Vista users."
This despite the continued presence of remnants of the GPMC campaign, which touted its inclusion in Vista as a boon. "The Group Policy Management Console, or GPMC, was available as a download for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003," reads one TechNet page.
"A scriptable Microsoft Management Console, GPMC offered a single administrative tool for managing Group Policy. GPMC is now built right into Windows Vista. This means that whenever you're ready to create or edit [group policy objects], you'll have easy access to the best tool for the job."
Of course, as the spokesperson would point out, administrators are not either typical Windows users nor the majority of users. But more end-user-like features, such as Windows Advanced Firewall, had been (and will presumably continue to) leverage group policy as a system for maintaining privileges and restrictions for users' accounts.
"Only administrators would use the GP management tools - not end users," the spokesperson wrote.
The spokesperson went on to say that the company's forthcoming inclusion of Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM, the former GPOVault Enterprise) in Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) was an indication that Microsoft remains committed to expanding what she called "the reach of group policy," including its invocation in Vista.
its not really that significant. Frankly, its best left as an admin pack function
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I believe GPMC's removal from Windows Vista RTM at SP1 should be treated as a significant change for enteprises. Any change to RTM product functionality at a service pack should be considered significant. I am hoping to see the beta release of Vista SP1 soon along with the download they intented to have replace GPMC to provide feedback on potential impact.
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I think that MS shouldn't be removing anything from Vista except the bugs. The general concensus is that it is overpriced and not nearly good enough to demand the prices paid. Anything that lowers the value perception is bad.
It doesn't matter that hardly anyone uses it, it is perception of less value.
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For those confused by this: GPMC and GPEDIT are not the same thing. GPMC is really only helpful in domain environments, not workgroup or standalone. GPEDIT is not going away. Only GPMC. WS 2008 will have it, so if you're in a domain environment, you'll still have it as well. Relax. Drink up.
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Title is misleading--MS said "The removal of the GPMC tool with Service Pack 1 is not significant to the majority of Windows Vista users."
There is a big difference, no? To someone who relied on the GPMC tool for Vista RTM this is beyond 'significant'. Microsoft's point is that it is not used by many, though, and is announcing its removal simply to inform those few who are using it that continued usage may not be such a good idea...
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No, bourgeoisdude, I think if it's not misleading to have said that the inclusion of GPMC in Vista was very significant to the majority of Windows Vista users - which Microsoft's people did, in demonstrations which I saw first-hand - then it is not misleading to have passed on that Microsoft said that the removal of GPMC from SP1 was insignificant, period.
-SF3
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Okay, I see your point there.
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THis doesn't mean the group policy editor does it? It's the only way I've been able to get file sharing enabled for guests! Normally Vista won't let you share files with other users at all unless they have a user account on your computer with the same exact username and password. Yeah right.
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The GPMC is separate from the GPedit utility. The editor is launched from GPMC when making GPO changes. GPMC is the app that is used to view and manage links, backups and so forth to GPOs with respect to Domains and Sites.
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rsx508 is right, the GPO editor itself will not be removed from SP1. Just the management tool that launches the GPO editor and that also helps you model policies and simulate their results.
-SF3
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