There are two types of DFS:
- DFS Namespace: a virtual tree aggregating shared folders from the entire network. Administrators can set up multiple DFS...
- DFS Replication: creates replicated shared folder with scheduling and bandwidth throttling configured by the...
How to configure DFS namespace?
- Namespace-scoped: Each DFS namespace presents one virtual folder view. ...
- Namespace root target-scoped: Each DFS namespace can have one or more root targets - think of a root target as an SMB share presenting the namespace folder structure. ...
- Namespace server-scoped: Each DFS namespace server can host one or more namespace root targets. ...
How can I Find my DFS namespace servers?
- For a domain-based DFS namespace, verify the removal of the AD DS namespace configuration data. ...
- On any namespace servers that are hosting the namespace, verify the removal of the DFS namespace registry configuration data. ...
- Remove the file share that was associated with the namespace from the namespace servers. ...
How to configure a Distributed File System (DFS) namespace?
To install DFS by using Server Manager
- Open Server Manager, click Manage, and then click Add Roles and Features. The Add Roles and Features Wizard appears.
- On the Server Selection page, select the server or virtual hard disk (VHD) of an offline virtual machine on which you want to install DFS.
- Select the role services and features that you want to install. ...
What is Microsoft DFS and why is it useful?
What are the benefits of Microsoft DFS?
- DFS makes navigation easy across different shared folders.
- It hides the complexities that come with setting up the virtual namespaces and linking folders together.
- Facilitates administration and takes a lot of burden off the shoulders of administrators.
- Keeps the permissions intact.
What are two types of DFS namespaces?
When creating a namespace, you must choose one of two namespace types: a stand-alone namespace or a domain-based namespace.
What are the main types of services DFS provide?
The Distributed File System (DFS) functions provide the ability to logically group shares on multiple servers and to transparently link shares into a single hierarchical namespace. DFS organizes shared resources on a network in a treelike structure.
What is domain-based DFS namespace?
The Microsoft Infrastructure now provides domain-based DFS namespace service. This provides redundant distributed file redirection services, allowing you to easily add and remove file servers without impacting your customers.
What is a difference between standalone and Domainbased DFS servers?
The basic difference between the two DFS namespaces is how they store the DFS configuration data. Standalone namespaces keep this information in the host server's registry, while domain-based namespaces store it in the Active Directory (AD) database.
What is namespace in Active Directory?
The namespace of Active Directory represents a bounded area within which the DNS name of the root of Active Directory is translated to all the objects within the directory.
What is Active Directory DFS?
Distributed File System, or DFS, is a Microsoft implementation of a network file system that allows data to exist in multiple places over a network while mitigating the need for clients asking for such data to know exactly which server and path the data exists upon.
What is standalone DFS?
Standalone DFS namespace - allows for a DFS root that exists only on the local computer, and thus does not use Active Directory. A Standalone DFS can only be accessed on the computer on which it is created. It does not offer any fault tolerance and cannot be linked to any other DFS.
How do I find DFS namespace?
Go to the DFS Mangement Console, expand out Namespaces, and make sure you see the Namespace you are looking for. If you don't, then right click Naemspaces and choose Add Namespaces to Display... , and select the Namespace you are looking for. Once you have the Namespace visible, simply click on the namespace.
How do I use DFS namespaces?
To setup Namespaces:Go to DFS Management.Right click on Namespaces in the left panel and click New Namespace.Enter the name of the server. ... Provide a name for the Namespace.You can choose to edit the local path of the shared folder.Choose either a Domain-based or Stand-alone Namespace.More items...
Should DFS namespace be on domain controller?
It may seem tempting, but domain controllers should never have the DFS Namespace service disabled. Clients require access to the DFS service of domain controllers to enumerate trusted domains, obtain lists of available domain controllers, and to process domain namespace referral requests.
Is Active Directory an application?
Active Directory (AD) is Microsoft's proprietary directory service. It runs on Windows Server and enables administrators to manage permissions and access to network resources. Active Directory stores data as objects. An object is a single element, such as a user, group, application or device such as a printer.
Does DFS use SMB?
DFS works with the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, sometimes referred to as Windows networking. The SMB protocol is also commonly referred to as the Common Internet File System (CIFS). Microsoft's DFS does not work with non-SMB file networking protocols such as NFS or HDFS.
How to check DFS namespace size?
To check the size of a namespace, right-click the namespace in the DFS Management console tree, click Properties, and then view the namespace size in the Namespace Properties dialog box. For more information about DFS Namespace scalability, see the Microsoft website File Services.
What is domain based namespace?
The domain-based namespace introduced 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 namespace must meet the following minimum requirements: The forest uses the Windows Server 2003 or higher forest functional level.
Does Windows Server 2008 require a namespace server?
Yes, requires Windows Server 2008 namespace server. No. Yes. Supported methods to ensure namespace availability . Create a stand-alone namespace on a failover cluster. Use multiple namespace servers to host the namespace. (The namespace servers must be in the same domain.)
Server requirements and limits
There are no additional hardware or software requirements for running DFS Management or using DFS Namespaces.
Installing DFS Namespaces
DFS Namespaces and DFS Replication are a part of the File and Storage Services role. The management tools for DFS (DFS Management, the DFS Namespaces module for Windows PowerShell, and command-line tools) are installed separately as part of the Remote Server Administration Tools.
To install DFS by using Server Manager
Open Server Manager, click Manage, and then click Add Roles and Features. The Add Roles and Features Wizard appears.
Namespace-scoped cmdlets
This set of cmdlets provides Get/Set/New/Remove operations (called verbs in PS parlance) on a “DfsnRoot” object – which represents a DFS namespace.
Namespace Root Target-scoped
These cmdlets support the same Get/Set/New/Remove operations, but on root targets. And remember that there can be multiple active root targets for a domain-based DFS namespace (which is why domain-based namespaces are generally the recommended option).
Namespace server-scoped
These two cmdlets operate on the namespace server overall – support Get/Set on the “DfsnServerConfiguration” object.
Namespace Folder-scoped
This set of cmdlets operates on a DFS namespace folder path. In addition to Get/Set/New/Remove operations on a “DfsnFolder” object, renaming (Move) is also supported. Further, retrieving (Get), setting (Grant), revoking (Revoke) and removing (Remove) enumerate access on namespace folders is also supported through this set of cmdlets.
Namespace Folder Target-scoped
This set of cmdlets operates on one or more folder target (s) of a namespace folder. Specifically, the same four operations Get/Set/New/Remove are supported on the “DfsnFolderTarget” object.
Conclusion
I hope this gave you a decent overview of the new DFSN cmdlets in Windows Server 2012. And hope you will start using them soon!
How to add DFS to a host?
1. Open the Server Manager and select DFS Management from the Tools menu (if you can’t find it, you need to add the feature DFS Namespace ): 2. Right-click on Namespaces and select New Namespace: 3. The Wizard will start. Specify the name of the host: 4. Name your Namespace:
Can you aggregate multiple shared folders into a unique virtual folder?
You can aggregate multiple shared folders into a unique virtual folder. Of course you can create many virtual folders if you need it: The virtual folder has been created: You can access it from the network. As you can see, the path is. \Domain_NameNamespace_NameVirtual_folder_Name:
What does NFS stand for?
NFS –#N#NFS stands for Network File System. It is a client-server architecture that allows a computer user to view, store, and update files remotely. The protocol of NFS is one of the several distributed file system standards for Network-Attached Storage (NAS).
What is a distributed file system?
A Distributed File System (DFS) as the name suggests, is a file system that is distributed on multiple file servers or multiple locations. It allows programs to access or store isolated files as they do with the local ones, allowing programmers to access files from any network or computer. The main purpose of the Distributed File System (DFS) ...
What is the core of Hadoop?
The core of Hadoop contains a storage part , known as Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS), and an operating part which is a MapReduce programming model. NetWare –. NetWare is an abandon computer network operating system developed by Novell, Inc.
Why should multiple file servers be provided?
Multiple file servers should be provided for performance, adaptability, and dependability.
Where should the file system be located?
The file system should be automatically located on the accessed file and send it to the client’s side. Naming transparency –. There should not be any hint in the name of the file to the location of the file. Once a name is given to the file, it should not be changed during transferring from one node to another.
Can a file name be changed during transferring from one node to another?
Once a name is given to the file, it should not be changed during transferring from one node to another. Replication transparency –. If a file is copied on multiple nodes, both the copies of the file and their locations should be hidden from one node to another. User mobility :
Can you use DFS and namespace together?
It is not necessary to use both the two components of DFS together, it is possible to use the namespace component without using the file replication component and it is perfectly possible to use the file replication component without using the namespace component between servers.
What is DFS namespace?
Independent DFS namespace: It only allows those DFS root directories that exist on the local computer and does not use Active Directory. The standalone DFS can only be obtained on those computers where the DFS was created.
What is DFS in network?
DFS is the abbreviation of the distributed file system, which is a file system that stores data on a server. Access and process data as if stored on a local client computer. Through DFS, you can easily share information and files between users on the network in a controlled and authorized manner.
What is NFS in SMB?
NFS: NFS stands for Network File System. It is a client-server architecture that allows computer users to view, store, and update files remotely. The NFS protocol is one of several distributed file system standards for network-attached storage (NAS). CIFS: CIFS stands for Common Internet File System. CIFS is the accent of SMB.
Why are independent DFS few?
The root causes of independent DFS are few because their advantages are limited. Domain-based DFS namespace: It stores the DFS configuration in Active Directory, and creates a DFS namespace root directory that can be accessed at \ <domain name> <dfsroot> or \ <FQDN> <dfsroot>.
Why is distributed file system important?
Even if the server or disk fails, the distributed file system can provide data transparency. It improves file availability, access time, and network efficiency.
Is it easy to handle a database in a distributed file system?
Compared with a single-user system, it is not easy to handle the database in a distributed file system. In a distributed file system, nodes and connections need to be protected, so it can be said that security is threatened. If all nodes try to send data at once, overload may occur.
Choosing A Namespace Type
- Choose a stand-alone namespace if any of the following conditions apply to your environment: 1. Your organization does not use Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). 2. You want to increase the availability of the namespace by using a failover cluster. 3. You need to create a single namespace with more than 5,000 DFS folders in a domain that doe...
Choosing A Domain-Based Namespace Mode
- If you choose a domain-based namespace, you must choose whether to use the Windows 2000 Server mode or the Windows Server 2008 mode. The Windows Server 2008 mode includes support for access-based enumeration and increased scalability. The domain-based namespace introduced in Windows 2000 Server is now referred to as "domain-based namespac…
Additional References