Setting up DFS (Distributed File System) on Windows 2008 R2

I think DFS is one of the best product Microsoft has. The possibilities are just imense.
If you need a global, distributed file system with high availibility DFS is for you. You can share a folder and make it high available across the WAN. It is simple to set up, easy to use and very quick to replicate.

Today I am going to show you how to set it up. I am going to have a text version and once I have a bit more time I will give you a screenshot version.

I have two Windows 2008 R2 servers, one as my domain controller and a second one just as a member server.

You will need to install DFS Role on two servers, otherwise you won't be able to configure it.

Installing DFS (Follow these steps on both Servers)

1. Click on [Start]
2. Click on "Administrative Tools"
3. Click on "Server Manager"
4. Click on "Roles"
5. Click on "Add Roles"
6. Click on <Next>
7. Select "File Services" then click on <Next>
8. Click on <Next> once again
9. Tick the boxes:
• File Server
• Distributed File System
• DFS Namespace
• DFS Replication
10. After selecting the options above, click on <Next>
11. Select "Create a namespace later" and click <Next>
12. Click "Intall"
13. Once the installation has been complete, click on <Close>

Follow the steps above on both servers ti host the DFS role. Once this is done we can move on to configure it.

Configuring DFS Role and Namespace

1. Click on [Start]
2. Click on "Administrative Tools"
3. Click on "DFS Management"
4. Click on "Replication"
5. Click on "New Replication Group..."
6. Select the option "Replication Group for data collection" and click on <Next>
7. Within the field "Name of replication group" type a descriptive name i.e: MyReplication
8. Within the field "Domain" type in your Windows domain name i.e: linuxad.int
9. Click on <Next>
10. Type in the destination server name i.e.: dfsrep01.linuxad.int
1. Note: Remember that the DFS role needs to be installed on the destination server.
2. Replace the server name with the name of your source server.
11. Click on <Next>
12. On "Replicated Folders" screen, click on [Add...]
13. Choose the folder you wish to replicate for example: "C:\Data", then click on [OK]
14. Click on <Next>
15. Type in the destination Server Name i.e: dfsrep02.linuxad.int
1. Note: Remember that the DFS role needs to be installed on the destination server.
2. Replace the server name with the name of your source server.
16. Click on <Next>
17. Choose the destination foder for the replication data for example: "C:\Data", then click on <Next>
18. Click on "Replicate Continuously using the specified bandwidth".
19. Leave it in [Full] and click <Next>
20. Click on [Create]
21. then click on [OK]

This will give you a full DFS system with two servers, source and destination fully working.
There are some extra details, which need configuring, I will describe them later, keep posted.

by Renato Oliveira