Distributed File System or DFS is used in Windows server platform in order to access files from multiple hosts sharing through a common computer network. Through such a system, users on different machines, situated in different locations are able to share files and resources easily. To understand DFS management it is first important to understand the significance of Distributed File Systems in an Active Directory environment.

What is DFS?

In Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 2003 R2, 2008 and later versions which supports Active Directory service, Distributed File System represents a set of server and client services. DFS are employed in organizations to organize the distributed file shares so as to improve data availability in different locations. DFS works over a common network (WAN in general) through which multiple users using multiple systems over the network are able to access files. All the files accessible via the DFS are stored under a root folder, also termed as the DFS root.

Distributed File System consists of two major components, viz., the DFS namespace and DFS File Replication Service or the FRS. DFS namespace is there to offer an abstraction layer or SMB file shares over multiple physical servers. On the other hand, the file replication service facilitates file replication between the servers every time new file shares are added or the old ones are changed.

DFS management and MMC consoles

Managing Distributed file Systems primarily involves server management along with the management of the DFS namespace and the DFS FRS. In an Active Directory, there are MMC snap-in consoles available for server management and DFS management. The method to install the DFS management snap-in is explained below:

Manage Your Server method of installing DFS snap-in

If you want to install the MMC consol for managing the DFS namespace, the DFS Replication Service, or both without adding them to the File server role, then the file server tool ‘Manage Your Server’ can be used. Following are the steps:

Start> All Programs> Administrative Tools> Manage Your Server.

Click Add or remove a role.

In the Configure Your Server Wizard, click Next.

On the Server Role page, select File Server, and then click Next. Click Next another time.

In the Add File Server Role Wizard, click Next, and then select Replicate data to and from this server.

Follow the steps in the wizard to complete the installation. The wizard will ask you to restart the system once the installation is complete.

It is also possible to install the DFS snap-in using Add or Remove Programs under the Control Panel. However, even with the DFS management snap-in, administrators face different issues. At times administrators are not able to add or remove additional namespace servers with the snap-in. upon domain functional level up gradation, the snap-in might fail to enable advanced features. Furthermore, administrators may encounter the following error message while managing Windows server mode namespace using the snap-in:

"Properties cannot be set on the folder"

Tools to manage DFS

Due to the above mentioned problems, it is best to employ a server management system that offers more reliability, flexibility and better controls. Lepide Active Directory Management and Reporting tool is an excellent application to help organizations in DFS management and server management. With the help of this tool, administrators are able implements both standalone DFS namespace and domain based DFS namespace. Apart from this, the DFS management facilities which this tool offers include, viewing the existing DFS, adding links to the DFS root folder, deleting the rot folder and deleting single or multiple links.