3.2.1.1 Preferences Setting State

The Group Policy: Preferences Extension protocol maintains no state but can, through Group Policy processing, apply preferences to the computer or user. Preferences protocol settings are read from a known location, specified in section 2.2.1, as an XML file and during the processing of a GPO.

The client protocol reads the settings and applies them to either the local user or the local computer when Group Policy determines that the GPO applies to the user or to the computer.

Twenty different high-level setting types and a number of subtypes, plus additional targeting criteria, are part of the Preferences protocol. The schema definitions for the Group Policy: Preferences Extension settings are specified in Preferences Policy Message Syntax (section 2.2.1).