To apply the settings defined in a Group Policy Object (GPO) to specific users or computers, you link the GPO to an Active Directory container such as a domain, site, or most commonly, an Organizational Unit (OU). Linking an existing GPO to an OU is a straightforward process using the Group Policy Management Console.
Steps to Link an Existing GPO
Follow these steps to link a pre-configured GPO to a specific Organizational Unit:
- Open the Group Policy Management Console: Launch the console from administrative tools on a domain controller or a machine with RSAT installed.
- Navigate to the Desired OU: In the console tree, expand your domain and locate the specific Organizational Unit (OU) where you want the GPO's settings to apply.
- Initiate the Linking Process: Right-click on this OU.
- Select Linking Option: From the context menu that appears, select the option "Link an Existing GPO...".
- Choose the GPO: A dialog box titled "Select GPO" will open. Under the heading "Group Policy Objects", you will find a list of all available GPOs in your domain.
- Select the GPO: Select the name of the specific GPO you want to link from this list.
- Confirm the Link: Click OK to finalize the linking process.
Once linked, the GPO appears listed under the selected OU in the Group Policy Management Console. The settings within this GPO will then apply to the user and computer objects residing within that OU, subject to standard Group Policy processing and security filtering. This method allows you to reuse GPOs across different parts of your Active Directory structure.
