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Distributed File System

Distributed File System

Published: September 11, 2007 Updated: July 15, 2009 Applies To: Windows Server 2008 Distributed File System (DFS) Namespac es and DFS Replic ation offer simplified, highly-available ac cess to files, load sharing, and WAN-friendly replic ation. In the Windows Server 2003 R2 operating system, Mic rosoft revised and renamed DFS Namespac es (formerly called DFS), replaced the Distributed File System snap-in with the DFS Management snap-in, and introduc ed the new DFS Replication feature. In the Windows Server 2008 operating system, Mic rosoft added the Windows Server 2008 mode of domain-based namespac es and added a number of usability and performance improvements.

What does Distributed File System (DFS) do?

The Distributed File System (DFS) tec hnologies offer wide area network (WAN)-friendly replic ation as well as simplified, highly-available access to geographic ally dispersed files. The two technologies in DFS are the following: DFS Namespaces. Enables you to group shared folders that are located on different servers into one or more logic ally structured namespaces. Eac h namespace appears to users as a single shared folder with a series of subfolders. This structure inc reases availability and automatically connec ts users to shared folders in the same Active Direc tory Domain Services site, when available, instead of routing them over WAN connec tions. DFS Replication. DFS Replication is an efficient, multiple-master replication engine that you c an use to keep folders sync hronized between servers across limited bandwidth network c onnections. It replaces the File Replication Service (FRS) as the replication engine for DFS Namespaces, as well as for replicating the AD DS SYSVOL folder in domains that use the Windows Server 2008 domain functional level.

Who will be interested in this feature?

Administrators of large networks who want to organize and increase the availability of shared folders by creating a namespace and administrators who want to keep folders sync hronized between servers in an effic ient manner by using DFS Replication will be interested in this feature.

What new functionality does this feature provide?

DFS in Windows Server 2008 is implemented as a role service of the File Servic es role. The Distributed File System role service consists of two c hild role services: DFS Namespaces DFS Replication To manage DFS Namespaces and DFS Replic ation on a computer running Windows Server 2008, you can use the DFS Management snap-in hosted by Server Manager, or you c an use the DFS Management snap-in from the Administrative Tools folder. The following sections describe the individual changes in DFS Namespaces and DFS Replication for
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Windows Server 2008.

What new functionality is provided by DFS Namespaces?

DFS Namespaces in Windows Server 2008 includes the following changes.

Access-based enumeration
Acc ess-based enumeration allows users to see only files and folders on a file server to whic h they have permission to access. This feature is not enabled by default for namespaces (though it is enabled by default on newly-c reated shared folders in Windows Server 2008), and is only supported in a DFS namespace when the namespace is a standalone namespac e hosted on a computer running Windows Server 2008, or a domain-based namespac e by using the Windows Server 2008 mode. To enable access-based enumeration in a namespace, see Enable Ac cess-Based Enumeration on a Namespace1.

Cluster support
DFS Namespaces in Windows Server 2008 supports creating stand-alone namespaces on a failover cluster from within the DFS Management snap-in. To do so, spec ify a failover cluster on the Namespace Server page of the New Namespace Wizard. Note DFS Replication service is not designed to coordinate with cluster components, and the servic e will not fail over to another node.

Improved command-line tools

DFS Namespaces in Windows Server 2008 includes an updated version of the Dfsutil command and the new Dfsdiag command, whic h you c an use to diagnose namespace issues. For more information about the changes to Dfsutil, see (http://go.mic rosoft.com/fwlink/? LinkId=1365722). For more information about Dfsdiag, see (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=1365713).

Search for folders or folder targets within a namespace

DFS Management in Windows Server 2008 inc ludes the ability to searc h for folders or folder targets within a namespace. To use this feature, select a namespace, clic k the Search tab, type your search string in the text box, and then clic k Search.

Windows Server 2008 mode domain-based namespaces

Windows Server 2008 inc ludes the ability to create a domain-based namespace in Windows Server 2008 mode. Doing so enables support for access-based enumeration and increased scalability. The domain-based namespace introduc ed in Windows 2000 Server is now referred to as "domain-based namespace (Windows 2000 Server mode)." To use the Windows Server 2008 mode, the domain and domain-based namespace must meet the following minimum requirements: The forest uses the Windows Server 2003 or higher forest functional level.

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The domain uses the Windows Server 2008 or higher domain func tional level. All namespace servers are running Windows Server 2008. If your environment supports it, choose the Windows Server 2008 mode when you c reate new domain-based namespaces. This mode provides additional features and sc alability, and also eliminates the possible need to migrate a namespace from the Windows 2000 Server mode. For information about migrating a namespac e to Windows Server 2008 mode, see Migrate a Domainbased Namespace to Windows Server 2008 Mode4.

What new functionality is provided by DFS Replication?

DFS Replic ation in Windows Server 2008 includes the following changes.

Content Freshness
DFS Replic ation in Windows Server 2008 has a new feature called Content Freshness, whic h prevents a server that was offline for a long time from over-writing fresh data when it comes back online with stale (out-of-date) data.

Improvements for handling unexpected shutdowns

In Windows Server 2008, DFS Replication now allows for quicker recovery from unexpected shutdowns. Unexpec ted shutdowns can oc cur bec ause of the following reasons: Unexpec ted shutdown of DFS Replic ation: This could occur if the DFS Replication proc ess c rashes, is ended, or stops bec ause there are insufficient resourc es. Unexpec ted shutdown of the computer: This c ould occur if the computer c rashes or loses power while DFS Replication is running. Unexpec ted shutdown of the volume: This could oc cur if the volume hosting a DFS Replic ation c ontent set loses power, is disc onnected, or is forced to dismount. Unexpected shutdowns of the computer and the volume can c ause the NTFS file system to lose changes whic h have not been copied to disk. Therefore the DFS Replic ation database can bec ome inc onsistent with the on-disk file system state. On Windows Server 2003 R2, an unexpec ted shutdown may forc e DFS Replication to perform a complete database rebuild, whic h c an be very time consuming. DFS Replic ation in Windows Server 2008 usually does not need to rebuild the database following unexpected shutdowns, and thus recovers much more quickly. Note These improvements are available only if all members of the replic ation group are running Windows Server 2008.

DFS Replication performance improvements

DFS Replic ation in Windows Server 2008 includes the following performanc e improvements: Faster replic ation both for small and large files. Initial synchronization completes faster.
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Better network bandwidth utilization on LANs and high latency networks such as WANs. The following table provides additional details about the performance improvements in DFS Replication.

Windows Server 2003 R2 Multiple RPC calls

Windows Server 2008 RPC Async Pipes (when replic ating with other servers running Windows Server 2008)

Synchronous inputs/outputs Asynchronous I/Os (I/Os) Buffered I/Os Unbuffered I/Os Low Priority I/Os (this reduces the load on the system as a result of replication) 16 conc urrent file downloads

Normal Priority I/Os

4 concurrent file downloads

Propagation report
DFS Management in Windows Server 2008 inc ludes a new type of diagnostic report called a propagation report. This report displays the replication progress for the test file c reated during a propagation test.

Replicate now
DFS Management now includes the ability to forc e replic ation to occur immediately, temporarily ignoring the replication schedule. To force replication immediately 1. In the c onsole tree, under the Replication node, select the appropriate replic ation group. 2. Clic k the Connections tab. 3. Right-click the member you want to use to replicate, and then clic k Replicate Now.

Support for Read-Only Domain Controllers

In Windows Server 2008, DFS Replication supports Read-Only Domain Controllers (RODCs). For more information about RODCs, see http://go.mic rosoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=965175. On an RODC, any changes made to the domain controller are rolled back by DFS Replic ation. Note DFS Replication does not support read-only replication groups other than the SYSVOL folder on domain controllers, and only supports RODCs in leaf nodes.

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SYSVOL replication using DFS Replication

DFS Replic ation replaces the File Replication Servic e (FRS) as the replication engine for replic ating the AD DS SYSVOL folder in domains that use the Windows Server 2008 domain func tional level. To facilitate migrating existing SYSVOL folders to DFS Replic ation, Windows Server 2008 inc ludes a tool that helps to migrate the replication of existing SYSVOL folders from FRS to DFS Replic ation. This tool: Enables administrators to initiate the migration of SYSVOL folders to the DFS Replication service by specifying all required options and has intelligent predefined defaults. Provides mechanisms for administrators to troubleshoot potential problems that could occur during migration. Has monitoring capabilities that enable administrators to view the progress of the migration proc ess. The results of using the Dcpromo tool on a c omputer running Windows Server 2008 vary depending on the domain func tional level: If the domain functional level is Windows Server 2008, the server will use DFS Replic ation for SYSVOL replication. If the domain functional level is Windows Server 2003, the server will use FRS for SYSVOL replic ation. For more information about replicating SYSVOL using DFS Replication, see (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=930576). Note To manage a Distributed File System namespace that uses FRS to replicate content, open the Distributed File System snap-in on a c omputer running Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server. The only FRS management operations that DFS Management in Windows Server 2008 can perform are displaying replic a sets and deleting them.

Additional references
DFS Management 7 Help. For information about other features in File Services, see the File Services Role8 topic.

Links Table
1http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd919212(v=ws.10).aspx 2http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=136572 3http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=136571 4http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc 753875(v=ws.10).aspx 5http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=96517

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6http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=93057 7http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc 732006(v=ws.10).aspx 8http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc 730983(v=ws.10).aspx

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