What is DFS ( Distributed File System ) ?
This document will explain what the dfs is and how to set it up in Windows 2003 Server.
Distributed File System (DFS) is a very useful feature of Windows 2003 and above systems. The dfs is used to build an orderly view of multiple file servers and shares on the network. In Company each department may have a different server path. Due to this, users need to remember multiple file locations and paths. If due to some reason the path changes, many users will suddenly not be able to find files at the expected location. This is an operational nightmare. However we can make that: Instead of having to think of a specific machine name(\\servername\sharename) for each set of files, the user will only have to remember one name; which will be the ‘key’ to a list of shares found on multiple servers on the network. Think of it as the home of all file shares with links that point to one or more servers that actually host those shares. DFS has the capability of routing a client to the closest available file server by using Active Directory site metrics. It can also be installed on a cluster for even better performance and reliability. Medium to large sized organizations are most likely to benefit from the use of DFS - for smaller companies it is simply not worth setting up since an ordinary file server would be just fine.
Dfs Terminology
Dfs root: A private type sharing folder and includes file or folder.
Dfs link: A link is another share somewhere on the network that goes under the root.
Types Of Dfs
There are two types of DFS
- Domain DFS: A domain root will publish itself in Active Directory and supports replication
- Stand Alone DFS: A stand alone root doesn’t.
If you have an AD Domain Controller set up on your machine, we recommend choosing the domain root.
Creating a DFS system
The DFS console is available in Programs/Administrative Tools/Distributed File System menu. This will open the management console where all the configuration takes place.
Action/New Root
Press next on the first window to be brought to the screen where you will have to make the choice of creating either a stand alone or domain root.
Choice domain root and press next button
Write domain name and next
Inputting the host server name and next
Entering the dfs root name
You specify the root name of your primary DFS root. In my example I have called this root “EDU” . You can change this to anything you want. You might wish to have a root called “Documents” .
Selecting the root share and next
Your DFS root is now configured and visible in the configuration console. Right click the root target and press Status to check if it is online or not.
A green check mark verifies that everything is working properly and that the node is online, whereas a red X means that there is a problem.
To add a new link, right click the root for which you want the link to be created, and select New Link.
In the “New Link” screen, enter a name and path for the link and click OK. Repeat this for as many links as you need to create.
Links are visible right under the node.
Dfs root and three links in the DFS mmc console
File Replication Services
DFS Replication, the successor to the File Replication service (FRS) introduced in Windows 2000 Server operating systems, is a new, state-based, multimaster replication engine that supports replication scheduling and bandwidth throttling. DFS Replication uses a new compression algorithm known as remote differential compression (RDC). RDC is a “diff-over-the wire” client-server protocol that can be used to efficiently update files over a limited-bandwidth network. RDC detects insertions, removals, and re-arrangements of data in files, enabling DFS Replication to replicate only the changed file blocks when files are updated.
There are two types of replication:
* Automatic - which is only available for Domain DFS
* Manual - which is available for stand alone DFS and requires all files to be replicated manually.
Distributed File System Demo
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