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Questions tagged [dfs]

Microsoft Distributed File System (DFS) is a technology that complements the SMB/CIFS based file server role of Windows Servers.

DFS is comprised of DFSN (namespaces) and DFSR (replication). The two technologies can be implemented independently. However, the components are complementary when used together on Windows file servers.

DFSN allows creating "fake" namespaces or paths which when browsed, redirect the client to an alternate location as configured by an administrator. This allows creating a namespace which can apparently merge content which maybe spread across different file servers. DFSR allows creating multiple replicas of the content which thereby allow a level of resiliency. In the older versions of DFS (first introduced in Windows 2000 Server), the replication was handled by FRS (File Replication Service).

http://blogs.technet.com/b/josebda/archive/2009/12/30/windows-server-dfs-namespaces-reference.aspx provides good details related to DFSN.

See the DFSR tag for more details on DFSR.

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What is the difference between New-DfsnFolder and New-DfsnFolderTarget?

What is the difference between New-DfsnFolder and New-DfsnFolderTarget? Both commands require both parameters, -Path and -TargetPath. They create the same thing. A DFS folder with a target. So what is different?
Daniel
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Prompt for credentials when accessing administrative share over network

I have an administrative share on a server called install$ (\server\install$). This share should be accessable only for administrators and helpdesk users since it contains installers from different programms. I've a problem accessing it in the…
josibu
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Sysvol replication broken between Server 2008 R2 DCs

We recently added a second DC to our network at a different site. The DCs do not appear to have any difficulty communicating via the network, and AD objects (users, computers etc) are synchronising correctly. However, group policies are not.…
Andy S
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DFS Setup - The namespace server cannot be added. The system cannot find the path specified

I went to DFS Management and added a created a New Namespace. For the namespace server, I specified my Primary Domain controller (netbios name: primarydc). For the namespace, I enter Files. I use a domain-based namespace (Windows Server 2008…
morleyc
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One DFS Replication Group per Namespace

I'm in the process of implementing a single DFS namespace which will be holding approximately 20 or so Folder Targets. These folders are also going to be replicated to the other servers using DFS-R. I'm wondering whether I should set up a single…
Antix
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Alternatives to Windows DFS (distributed file system)

The Win 2008 dedicated server we're leasing doesn't have Win DFS installed (and we'd have to upgrade our hosting contract to get it). Are there any alternatives available that we could install so we can add some redundancy to the data to improve…
Nick
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windows active directory profile regional

we are an organization with 40k users. This organization is composed of multiples structures. We have one single forest Active Directory with flat DIT. We want to keep this AD in order to authenticate all our computers and users in all sub…
Harry Bahh
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DFS Namespace not visible Windows Server 2012

If I try to browse to our namespace, let's say \\local.lan I don't see the namespaces. They should be like: \\local.lan\ department1 department2 department3 But if I try to browse through the directories I just…
supreme
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DFS linking to a target folder within another target folder

Windows Server 2012 - Attempting to setup a file server using DFS I have the following scenario: Namespace: \\domain\resources Folder without targets: Files > \\domain\resources\files Folders with targets: Clients >…
Kvad
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Powershell - external command's parameter not accepted

This seems like a simple problem but I am unable to fix it Running dfsutil command in shell returns result C:\Windows\system32>dfsutil link "\server.domain.com\DFSRootname\Sharename" Link Name="Sharename" State="OK" Timeout="1800" …
Sergei
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DFS-R NTFS Permissions Not Working?

I have two Windows 2008 Standard servers running DFSR okay. I can create a file on one server and it is replicated to the other okay, etc. I have the namespace shared folder on each server shared with Full Control for Administrators and Modify…
user14930
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Distributed File System 2008 Speed Issue

I have setup a DFS system as follows. Office 1 (10MB Leased Line) SBS 2003 Server - Runs the network Windows 2008 Standard Server - Member Server + DFS Services (Namespace server) Office 2 (4 x Bonded Broadband Lines) Windows 2008 Standard Server -…
user3943
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Redirected folders, server migrations and properly moving users to a new server

I'm currently having a hell of a time with what seems like it should be a fairly simple project. Basically, $employer has a bunch of remote sites with ancient hardware impersonating real servers, and they're replacing them with real servers. Or,…
HopelessN00b
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How to enable DFSR between Windows Server 2008 servers that aren't part of a domain?

I'm configuring two server as IIS web servers on Windows Server 2008 in load balancing mode. I want to enable DFS replication for synchronizing web content files and IIS configuration data (via IIS 7 shared configuration.) The servers are not in a…
splattne
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What permissions are required to back up to a remote folder?

I'm currently working with Windows Server Backup and am trying to run a scheduled backup with an unprivileged account. I want to create a full backup of the server exchange.dom.example.com. I created a new domain user "Backup", which I want to use…
Oliver Salzburg
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