Managing DFS Replication: Directories & Replicated Files

Instructions on how to setup, remove and manage directories within DFSR.

Author: John Wieda, MCTS: SCOM, SCCM, SCVMM SystemCenterSpartan.wordpress.com

Version: 1.00 October 2009

Managing DFS Repl ication: Directories and Repl icated Fil es

10/27/2009

1.0

PURPOSE 1.1 This document will provide instructions on how to setup and remove directories from DFS Repl ication. **Assumption: Server OS installed is Windows Server 2008 or newer.**

2.0

SCOPE 2.1 This document will compliment a current working DFSR environment if there is a need to add in Windows Server 2008 (or newer) operating system with the DFSR Role installed. 2.2 This process applies to individuals with granted permissons to setup, remove and manage DFS Replication.

3.0

ASSUMPTI ONS 3.1 This document will assume that DFSR has already been built out with a namespace and directory structure and naming convention. 3.2 It is assumed that Windows Server 2003 R2 and Windows Server 2008 or newer will be used for DFSR (mixed-mode can exist It is assumed that the individual(s) managing DFSR have read through documentation on how to install, setup, remove and manage DFSR. For the purpose of this documentation, the Depl oy directory will be used to replicate OS images to be used for Operating System Deployment (OSD) via MDT 2010. The Sof tware directory will be used to replicate packaged software to be used within a Task Sequence tied into OSD. Your directory naming convention will be different. **MDT 2010 and OSD will not be covered in this documentation.**

3.3 3.4

4.0

PREREQUI SI TES 4.1 Install the following Rol es onto the new server to run the DFSR services: 4.2 Fil e Serv er Distributed Fil e System: DFS Namespaces & DFS Repl ication ( v erif y both serv ices are set to start automatical l y)

Create and share the necessary directories: D:\ Depl oy$ and D:\ Sof tware on the server where the Rol es from the previous step were installed (make sure there is proper disk space). **Please note that Deploy is a hidden share.**

4.3

Verify the Share Permissions for each directory as follows: Everyone: Read

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DFS-Mod-Group: Change, Read 4.4 Verify the Security Permissions for each directory as follows: DFS-Mod-Group: Administrators (servername\Administrators): Full Control Authenticated Users: Read & Execute, L ist Folder Contents, Read System: Full Control 5.0 PROCEDURE 5.1 Conf igure created f ol ders f or DFSR 5.1.1 5.1.2 Launch the DFS Management console (Administrator Tools). From the Namespaces view, right click to add the \ \ northbranch.com\ DFSR namespace:

5.1.3

Next we will add the Depl oy and Sof tware directories created in Step 4.2 to the \ \ northbranch.com\ DFSR Namespace.

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5.1.4

Expand the added namespace, select Depl oy right click and select Add Folder Target enter the path for the New Fol der Target the new management server.

5.1.5 Now we will do the same for the Sof tware Fol der. 5.1.6 Select Sof tware right click and select Add Folder Target for New Fol der Target the new management server.

5.1.7

Next, we will create a New Replication Group for the Depl oy folder.

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5 .1.8

From the Replication view, right click New Replication Group

5.1.9

This will launch the New Replication Group Wizard.

5.1.10 Replication Group Type: verify that Mul tipurpose repl ication group is selected and click Nex t>

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5.1.11 Name and Domain: enter the Name ofrepl ication group: Depl oy (domain will be automatically filled in;i.e.: northbranch.com)

5.1.12 Replication Group Members: select

and then add in your DFSR servers

***If the DFS Replication service is not started on one of the DFSR servers, you will be prompted to have it automatically started at the end of the wizard. 5.1.13 Topology Selection: leave the default selection (Ful lMesh) and select Next > 5.1.14 Replication Group Schedule and Bandwidth: leave the default selection (continuousl y) and select Nex t> 5.1.15 Primary Member: if this is a new replication group, then select a highly available server to be the Primary Member.

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5.1.16 Folders to Replicate: select the necessary folders to replicate. 5.1.17 Select

and a wiz ard will launch to assist in adding

and the navigate to the Depl oy directory and select OK:

5.1.18 You can keep the folder name based on the shared path or Use custom name. You can also modify the Permissions >> (if needed).

5.1.19 Local Path of Deploy of Other Members: select this will launch a window which will enable you to Enable the folder on remote servers to replicate the

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5.1.20 Select Enabl ed and then and select OK:

and then navigate to the Depl oy directory

5.1.21 Review Settings and Create Replication Group: Review and select Create. 5.1.22 Confirmation: select Cl ose once completed:

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5.1.23 Repl ication Del ay: tick the box to not show again and then select OK.

5.1.24 Next, complete Steps 5 .1 .7 5.1 .22 to create a New Replication Group for the Sof tware folder.

5.2

Modif ying Staging Quota 5.2.1 The default Staging Quota for each replicated folder is 4.00GBs, this will most likely not be enough space for the Depl oy directory. The next steps will walk you through modifying the Staging Quota 5.2.2 Highlight the Depl oy Repl ication Group, under Replcation; select one of the server(s) that you j ust added, right click and select Properties \ Staging and then modify the Quota (in megabytes) to 14096:

***You can adjust this size to your needs, but keep in mind that disk space will be set aside to be used for the Staging Folder.

5.2.3

Adj ust the Staging Quota for any additional servers within the Depl oy Repl ication Group.

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5.2.4

You may have to adj ust this directory or other replicated groups later on as you add more files (i.e.: WIM).

5.2.5 If over time you decide to change the Staging Quota back to its original siz e, you will need to restart the DFS Repl ication service on the server to force the purging of replicated data. 5.2.6 errors: Ev ent Viewer DFS Repl ication log for any

5.3

Steps to Uninstal l/Remov e Management Serv er f rom DFSR 5.3.1 Depending on the geographic location of the management server being decommissioned, log onto one of the Namespace servers and launch the DFS Management consol e. From the Namespaces view, right click to add the namespace, in our example, it would be: \ \ northbranch.com\ DFSR:

5.3.2

5.3.3

Expand the added Namespace: \ \ northbranch.com\ DFSR, and select Depl oy.

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5.3.4

From within the Fol der Targets view, right click on the management server to be decommissioned as a DFSR Member and select Del ete:

5.3.5 Select Yes to Conf irm Remov e Fol der Target:

5.3.6 Next we will Del ete the Sof tware Fol der Target. 5.3.7 Select Sof tware under Namespace:\ \ northbranch.com/DFSR and Del ete the management server to be decommissioned as a DFSR Member:

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5.3.8

Review the Conf irm Del ete Member prompt and then select Yes.

5.3.9

Finally, Remove the following Roles on the management server: Fil e Serv er Distributed Fil e System: DFS Namespaces & DFS Repl ication **The final step maybe different if the Windows Operating System is not Windows Server 2008 or later.**

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