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

This is an awful virus, don’t know who infected it. It spreads via USB Memory Sticks. It can not be seen in the process list, hides itself and hides all files. The antivirus programs doesn’t see it.

Virus Signs

1) You don’t open system drivers
2) If you can see amvo.exe where msconfig(start/run-cmd).
3) You don’t connect directly memory cards.
4) You can not show hidden files and folders.
5) Slows down USB devices.
6) Drives open in new windows from My Computer.

That is a response. You dowload and run this program(ComboFix).
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Anything more ?

Sysprep(The System Preparation) is a tool designed for corporate system administrators, OEMs, and others who need to deploy the Windows® XP operating system on multiple computers. After performing the initial setup steps on a single system, you can run Sysprep to prepare the sample computer for cloning.

Sysprep assigns a unique security ID (SID) to each destination computer the first time the computer is restarted. Sysprep configures the operating system to use Windows Welcome or Mini–Setup to run the first time the end user restarts the computer. This shortened form of GUI–mode Setup takes 5 - 6 minutes instead of the usual 45 to 60 minutes, and it prompts the end user only for required and user–specific information, such as accepting the End–User License Agreement and entering the Product Key, user name, and company name.

Sysprep is a valuable utility even if you do not use disk duplication. You can run Sysprep with the –nosidgen switch to configure Windows Welcome or Mini–Setup on a single computer. In this case, Sysprep allows for auditing that may have been done; automates the Mini–Setup portion of the process so that users can still enter user–specific information, such as regional options and TAPI information; and bypasses setting up unique SIDs, because the SIDs will already be unique when Setup is actually run on the computer.

Configured a Reference Computer

• Install Windows XP Professional with sp2

Windows Xp Professional with Sp2 installed.

Change the way user log on or off options to control panel.

• Start / Control Panel / User Accounts / Change the way user log on or off
• You disable all options this screen

And log off then log on administrator account.

You will want to preserve any custom user settings on the reference computer before creating an image.

After the image is deployed on a target computer, the custom settings will apply only to users who log on to the target computer as the administrator. To make the custom settings avaible to anyone who uses the image, you will need to copy the administrator profile to the default user profile before creating image.

On the reference computer, create a new account that has administative privileges, and than log on by using that account. Because when we are copying administrator account is not in use.

Then log off administrator account, and log on Mark Jone ( Administrative privileges account )

You must be show hidden files and folders.

Same folder window’s top menu, click “Tools” menu. And press the “Folder Options” button in the tools menu. In the folder options window, click “View” tab. And select “Show hidden files and folders”.

We will copy to administrator profile to the default user profile this step.

Start / right-click My Computer / Properties / Advanced tab / in the User Profile section / Settings

Select “REFPC\Administrator” and then click to “Copy To” button.

In the Copy To dialog box, Local Disk C ( System Drive )\ Documents and Settings\Default User

And click Ok.

Click the change button.

In the “Select or User Group” dialog box, type “Everyone” in the name box, and click OK

A “Confirm Copy” message box appears that states, click YES and then click OK until all dialog boxes are closed.

We finished to the administrator profile copy to the default profile.

Then log off Mark Jone account, and log on administrator account.

On the administrator account, you can delete other accounts, because we dont log on other accounts.

Right-clik My Computer / Manage / Local Users and Groups / Users /

Select Mark Jone right-click and press the delete button.

Local Users and Groups dialog box appears that states, click YES.

However some accounts folder didint delete in the “Documents and Settings”. You can delete this accounts here.

Create a new folder in the “Local Disk C ( System Folder )” and rename this folder “SYSPREP”.

Insert the Windows Xp Professional Cd to the Cd-Room.

Right-click Cd Drive / Open / Support / Tools

Open Deploy.Cab.

Copy “Setupcl and sysprep” files to /system_drive/SYSPREP folder.

We will create an answer file.

Open “deploy.cab” and copy “setupmgr” files to desktop.

Click “setupmgr” on desktop. And complate this wizard following steps. But some of this steps is important.

You select “Sysprep Setup” / “Windows XP Professional” / “Yes full automate the installation”.

Dont create an administrator password.

Then you complate other steps. At the end of the wizard, save “sysprep.inf” to the “/system_drive/SYSPREP” folder.

Finished answer file.

After you configure the referance computer, you must use the System Preparation tool, Sysprep.exe, to remove all information that is unique to the reference computer, such as the security identifier and computer name. By removing this information, you can prevent security problems that could arise if two computers have the same SIDs.

We will reseal the Windows Xp Professional.

Open “/system_drive/SYSPREP” folder. Click “sysprep.exe”.

“System Preparation Tool” dialog box appears. Click OK. And then appears that state “System Preparation Tool 2.0” window.

We will use “Mini-Setup”, so you must select “Mini-Setup” and “Detect non-plug and play hardware” options. Then click “Reseal”. And then appears one dialog box, you click OK.

After the reference computer shuts down and is ready to be imaged.

Important: Dont open this system.

Finished sysprep.

We will imaged to be referance computer. We will use Acronis True image program.

Insert “acronis true image boot cd” to the cd-room. Start the referance computer. Insert bios. Setup boot cd-drive.

The reference computer boot the acronis true image cd. Select “Acronis True Image Enterprise Server(Full Version).

First, we will backup image to reference computer.

And following steps, next.

If you have a usb harddisk or dvd-wr, you can use it. But i prefer local network. I create a folder another computer in workgroup and I share this folder. I will use this folder for backup.

And following steps, next. At the end of the stpes. Click Proced.

Finished backup operation.

We prepared new backup file. You can use it for new installations.

How can ı use this backup image ?

You must insert the “Acronis Boot Cd” to Cd-Room and start new computer from Cd-Room.

Select “Recovery”. And following that steps. At the end of the stpes your backup image installed new computer. Restart computer. Eject the “Acronis Boot Cd”. And this system start normaly but perform mini-setup.