Dfs Replication in Windows Server

Using Domain-Based Dfs, the Dfs root structure can be stored on more than one server. The Dfs root folder will still be accessible if one of the servers goes down. The location of the Dfs root server is published in Active Directory and can be found easily by using its DNS name.

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In order to use Dfs replication, two or more domain servers are required. The domain es-net.co.uk has two Domain Controllers; Admin1 and Admin3. Open the Dfs management console. Right-click on Distributed File System to create a New Root. Select New Root. The New Root Wizard will appear. Click on Next to continue. The Host Domain for the Dfs root is going to be ES-NET.CO.UK. Click Next to continue. The shared folder Es-net is going to be used for the Dfs root. The Dfs root name is going to be Es-net and will be accessed using the UNC path, \\ES-NET.CO.UK\es-net. N.B. The location of the server isn’t needed, since Domain-based Dfs makes use of DNS. Click Next to continue. Check the summary page. If all settings are correct then click Finish.  The new Dfs root appears in the Dfs management console.

To create a root target on ADMIN3, right-click on the Dfs root. Select New Root Target. Type in the name of the second server to host the Dfs root, N.B. This has to be a domain server. Admin3.ES-NET.CO.UK will also host the Dfs root. Click Next to continue. The share Es-net on admin3 will also be used to host the Dfs root. Click Finish to close the wizard. The \\ES-NET.CO.UK\Es-net Dfs root is displayed in the management console. The Dfs root is stored on two machines; admin1 and admin3. Once configured correctly, if either of the servers goes down the Dfs root will still be accessible. Information contained in the root folders needs to be replicated. To configure replication right click on the DFS root.  Click Properties. Click next to continue. Before replication can take place a folder will need to be selected  as an initial master. Select \\admin1\es-net. Then click next.

Click Topology.

  • Ring: files replicate to computers in a circular configuration.
  • Hub and Spoke: One computer is designated as the hub. All other connected computers are spokes. Hub replicates with the spokes and vice versa, spokes never replicate directly with each other.
  •  Full Mesh: Every computer has a connection to every other computer. Files created on one computer replicate directly to all computers.

Select Custom. Click Finish to continue. Connections will have to be created before replication can be started. Click OK. Right Click the DFS root.  Select Properties.  Select Replication.  Select Customize.  Select New.  Select Servers to be connected. Click OK to continue.