Category: Distributed File System

Distributed File System – Namespace Server Removal

March 16, 2016
BackupsDistributed File SystemFile Services

The following is a step by step guide to removing a Distributed File System (DFS) namespace server for a Microsoft Active Directory (AD) integrated DFS namespace.

  1. Export the DFS namespace configuration with the following command:
    1. dfsutil /root:\\domain.com\namespace /export:namespace.txt /verbose
  2. In the DFS Management console right click and delete HOSTNAME under the Namespace Servers tab for the Microsoft Active Directory intergrated DFS namespace.
    1. \\domain.com\namespace
  3. Remove the file shares on HOSTNAME.
    1. \\hostname\namespace
  4. Verify the folder for the file share in step (3) is empty, then delete it.
    1. C:\DFSRoot\namespace
  5. This completes the process.

Distributed File System – Remove Orphaned Namespace

March 8, 2016
Distributed File SystemFile ServicesMicrosoft Active Directory

The following is a step by step guide on removing an orphaned Distributed File System (DFS) namespace in a Microsoft Active Directory environment.

  1. Open Active Directory Service Interfaces Editor (adsiedit.msc)
  2. Connect to the Default naming context
  3. Navigate to DC=domain,DC=com,CN=System,CN=Dfs-Configuration
  4. Delete the object for the orphaned DFS namespace
  5. Run repadmin /syncall (if you have more than one Microsoft Active Directory domain controller)

Microsoft Windows Server 2012 – Distributed File System (DFS) Configuration

June 24, 2013
Distributed File System

Distributed File System (DFS) allows you to share folders that are located on multiple servers using a consistent and logical namespace. Microsoft Windows Server 2012 allows you to add the DFS role (namespace and replication). After you add the DFS role you may use the following method to configure the namespace for your organization.

In Microsoft Windows Server 2012 select DFS Management on the start menu.

00

In the DFS Management console right click Namespaces and select New Namespace….

06

In the New Namespace Wizard dialog box, on the Namespace Server page click Browse…, then begin typing the name of the server that will host the name space, click OK. Lastly, click Next > on the New Namespace Wizard dialog box.

01

On the Namespace Name and Settings page enter the settings for your organization then click Next >. For this example I will type shares in order to make the namespace \\root.sysadmin.net\shares.

02

On the Namespace Type page select the appropriate setting for your environment then click Next >. In this example I will be using Domain-based namespace.

03

On the Review Settings and Create Namespace page review your settings then click Create, if they are correct.

04

On the Confirmation page you will be informed if the namespace was added successfully. If it was successful then click Close.

05

Next, right click the newly created namespace in the DFS Management console and select New Folder….

10

In the New Folder dialog box enter the next folder in the namespace and add it’s target by clicking Add… and adding the path in the Add Folder Target dialog box, then click OK.

07

08

Lastly, test the DFS configuration by connecting to the share using the newly created DFS namespace.

Enjoy!

Microsoft Windows Server 2012 – Install Distributed File System (DFS) Role

June 20, 2013
Distributed File System


You may use the following method to install the Distributed File System (DFS) role on a server running the Windows Server 2012 operating system (OS). The link below will direct you to a Microsoft TechNet article that provides a detailed description of DFS.

In the Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Server Manager dashboard click Add roles and features.

00

In the Add Roles and Features Wizard > Before You begin page click Next >.

01

On the Installation Type page select Role-based or feature-based installation and click Next >.02

On the Server Selection page select the appropriate server and click Next >.03

On the Servers Roles page navigate to File And Storage Services > File and iSCSI Services and select both DFS Namespaces and DFS Replication. When the Add features that are required for DFS Namespaces? dialog box appears click Add Features. Then, click Next >.040506

On the Features page click Next >.07

On the Confirmation page select the check box to Restart the destination server automatically if required (optional) and click Install.08

Click Close on the Results page after the installation succeeds.09

Lastly, you may configure your DFS namespace by clicking the DFS Management icon on the Start menu. This will open the DFS Management snap in.10

11

Enjoy!