DFS role on DC or File-server?

[Jaan]

I've setup DFRS on a physical file server to replicate to a virtual file server. We plan to go just virtual. the replica works fine.

 

I have not yet set any dfs namespaces. the wizard says: "Enter the name of the server that will HOST the name space. The server you specify will be known as the namespace server".

 

Should this be the machine that hosts the physical files (in my case the file server), or the DC that "points" to physical files?

 

The dfs and dfsr roles are on both our physical and virtual file servers, not the DCs.

 

Think i'm just over thinking it.

 

thanks in advance.

[DJ-1701]

The name space server is the one that tells the computer (when you browse to the name space) which server the files are actually held on. So simply it holds pointer records to where the files really are in case you decide to change where the path goes in the future.

 

So when you go to \\FQDN\DFSNameSpace$\Share it will check the DFS Namespace server to find out where the files are actually held.

 

Tip: When asked for the share name, I would recommend putting a $ at the end to hide the DFS root, so when someone browses \\FQDN\ they don't see it listed.

Edited September 13, 2017 by DJ-1701

[Jaan]

Thanks for your reply.

 

So should i have two namespace servers for each dfs root eg DC01 & DC02 or fileserver1 & fileserver2? in the event of one of the namespace servers being unavailable?

[DJ-1701]

Thanks for your reply.

 

So should i have two namespace servers for each dfs root eg DC01 & DC02 or fileserver1 & fileserver2? in the event of one of the namespace servers being unavailable?

 

It's wise to, yes, which you will get the option to do after inital setup.

[Jaan]

It's wise to, yes, which you will get the option to do after inital setup.

 

Ah ok cool.... as always i'm ahead of myself... thanks for the advise

[Jaan]

Got this sorted now in a test environment. So now have DFS and DFSR set up and running across two nameservers and two file servers.

 

Thanks for your help. Just need to read more into the "optimized polling modes" now. Consistency vs Scalability. I'm leaning towards consistency as it doesn't depends on my PDC to be online and will query the next available DC......

 

Just wanted to say ta

[Geoff]

Consistency if you have less than 16 sites across a WAN. I imagine you don't.