Sometimes I am connected via VPN to a network containing the server where files are stored which are cached by Windows offline files feature.
Sometimes the connection works good and working this way is not a problem – on other times working is quite a pain because of high latency when working with the files in the Windows explorer.
Is there an interactive way how a user (with admin permissions) can temporary suspend online usage of offline files?
I already activated the "Transparent caching" group policy feature (Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Networks > Offline Files) with a network latency of 200msec but from my experience even if I get ping times to the file server of less than 40msec online usage is quite tenacious. Setting low latency times at this point causes the offline files often to toggle which makes problems with some applications working with several files and requires them to be consistent (like SVN client).
Best Answer
In Windows Explorer, there is a Work offline command on the menu bar when viewing a folder or library that is redirected. This switches the partnership to offline mode, and the command becomes Work online. The status bar will report the online or offline status.