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RSoP planning mode

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

RSoP planning mode

Resultant Set of Policy (RSoP) planning mode helps administrators plan for growth and reorganization. With RSoP planning mode, you can poll existing Group Policy objects (GPOs) for all of the policy settings that can be applied. Then, you can use the results to construct a "What if?" scenario to predict the effect of changes in policy settings.

Planning mode is most helpful in the following situations:

  • You want to simulate the affect of specific policy settings on a computer or user, domain, organizational unit, or site.

  • The user is in Active Directory only (for example, a new account).

  • You want to test policy precedence in the following situations:

    • The user and the computer are in different security groups.

    • The user and the computer are in different organizational units.

    • The user or the computer is moving to a new location.

  • You want to create a slow network simulation.

  • You want to create a loopback simulation.

After you decide that a change is necessary, you can run a series of RSoP planning simulations to see what will happen to a user or a group of users if they are moved to another location or security group, or even to another computer. This includes what policy settings will be applied and which files will be loaded automatically after you implement the change. For more information, see RSoP planning mode options.

To run RSoP planning mode on a remote computer, you must be logged on as a member of the Domain Admins security group, Enterprise Admins security group, or be delegated Generate Resultant Set of Policy (planning) rights. For more information about security groups, see Default groups. For more information about delegating control of RSoP, see Delegate control of RSoP.