Note Make sure to install the Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 General Availability update rollup on all Work Folders servers and any.
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Learning has never been so easy!
In this howto, we are going to configure DFS role on a domain joined computer(s) to create distributed file shares to access from domain joined clients to use as a fileserver.
1.What is Distributed File System ( DFS ) ?
Distributed file System (DFS) is a set of client and server services that allow an organization using Microsoft Windows servers to organize many distributed SMB / file shares into a distributed file system. DFS provides location transparency (via the namespace component) and redundancy (via the file replication component) to improve data availability in the face of failure or heavy load by allowing shares in multiple different locations to be logically grouped under one folder, or DFS root.
7 Steps total
Step 1: Installing Distributed File system (DFS) on Windows 2016 Server
Installing Distributed File System (DFS) on Windows 2016 has been done through adding Roles and features wizard.
First login to your Windows Server 2016 DC machine and open server manager.
Open Add Roles and Features Wizard and move on to Server roles like shown in below image.
Expand File and Storage Services.
Under File and Storage Services you will find File and iSCSI Services expand it and select File Server, DFS Namespaces, DFS Replication, and File Server Resource Manager.
Open Add Roles and Features Wizard and move on to Server roles like shown in below image.
Expand File and Storage Services.
Under File and Storage Services you will find File and iSCSI Services expand it and select File Server, DFS Namespaces, DFS Replication, and File Server Resource Manager.
Here DFS Replication service is required if you want to keep folders synchronized between DFS servers across network or on a remote site. For a simple DFS File server implementation, DFS replication is optional but recommended.
After selecting these roles, click Next, Roles will automatically get installed
After selecting these roles, click Next, Roles will automatically get installed
Step 2: Configuring Distributed File System ( DFS ) Step 1
After successful installation of DFS roles, its time to configure shared folder, a Namespace for that shared folder and original location of the folder available in Windows 2016 server. From server manager click tools and open DFS Management.
Step 3: Configuring Distributed File System ( DFS ) Step 2
In left side pane you can find Namespace. Right click on it and click New Namespace. In Namespace Wizard, you must specify the namespace server and click next. Now you have to enter a name for the namespace. This name will appear after the server or domain name in the namespace path, such as ServerName or DomainName.
After giving name click edit settings and set permission as “Administrators have full access other users have read and write permissions”, then click ok and give next. By default, “All users have read only permissions” is set, and you can set any permissions as you require.
Step 4: Configuring Distributed File System ( DFS ) Step 3
Next part, selecting the type of Namespace you can use. There are two types of Name space, Domain based namespace and Standalone namespace.
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. Since we are using Domain joined computers, and we using DFS service for domain clients, we are using Domain based namespace.
Domain-based namespace:
A domain-based namespace is stored on one or more namespace servers and in Active Directory Domain Services. You can increase the availability of a domain-based namespace by using multiple servers.
Stand-alone namespace:
A stand-alone namespace is stored on a single namespace server. You can increase the availability of a stand-alone namespace by hosting it on a failover cluster.
There will be a option Enable Windows Server 2008 mode, When created in Windows Server 2008 mode, the namespace supports increased scalability and access-based enumeration.
Step 5: Configuring Distributed File System ( DFS ) Step 4
After selecting namespace, give next to Review Settings and Create Namespace. Review the settings and click create to start the process.
Once done, you will have the namespace created confirmation wizard as below
Step 6: Creating shared folder Namespace
We have successfully created Domain-based namespace. Now we have to create a shared folder for the users.
To create New folder expand the namespace in DFS management console, click on the namespace we just created. In right side pane of DFS management you can see New folder click on it, new window will open to create the shared folder.
Step 7: Adding Folder target
Give a name for the folder and click add and to give path for the folder. Browse and select the target.
After successfully adding the shared folder you can access from all the domain users on Run command or map network drive permanently as you wish.
![Deploying microsoft dfs with netapp storage systems free Deploying microsoft dfs with netapp storage systems free](http://community.netapp.com/legacyfs/online/9605_feat-fig1_lg.jpg)
Thus, it is very easy to install DFS roles on a Windows 2016 machine, and configure domain based namespace for a shared folder, and it can be accessible by domain joined computers, will work as a fileserver.
References
- Vembu Blog
14 Comments
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MaceMike400 Feb 3, 2017 at 06:04pmYou can also override the default DFS root and use existing shares in your file system. It's a little harder to do but far more flexible. Also, don't forget to install and configure DFS-Replication and set it to replicate the DFS-Namespace shares to get the most benefit of DFS-Namespace shares.
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Thai PepperJPadillar Feb 3, 2017 at 06:07pmNice write up. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us!
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PimientoIntis Feb 3, 2017 at 06:26pmThank you. It's what I'm looking for. My next project. :)
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Cayennebbeckers Feb 3, 2017 at 07:09pmLooks just like the process in 2012 R2. Have you seen any differences in DFS between 2012 and 2016?
I'm curious because I have a 'problem child' client where I'm always going in to fix DFS issues. The Diagnostic Reports are okay, but it would be nice to have more built in troubleshooting tools. -
Ghost ChiliCarl Holzhauer Feb 3, 2017 at 07:12pm^ I was thinking the same thing while scanning through the pictures
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SonoraBradN01 Feb 3, 2017 at 10:35pmThank you for the write-up. I'm going thru a 2016 DC upgrade and this ties in perfect.
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Pimientosilambarasangovindan Nov 1, 2017 at 11:36amThanks for your information.After configuring dfs, When user create new folder in dfs share location, And that folder ownership is created user only. If any one want to access that folder created user only give the access.is it possible to do this using script?
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Cayennebbeckers Nov 1, 2017 at 01:11pmsilambarasangovindan:
You should be able to modify permissions on the folder. Specifically inheritance. -
Jalapenokarimzaki Jun 4, 2018 at 06:38amthe same as 2012 I have just installed it 2016 no difference
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SerranoKelemvor Oct 30, 2018 at 03:39pmIs it recommended to install the DFS roles onto Domain Controllers or is it better to have it on its own server? Not sure if it makes a difference one way or the other.
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Anaheimmohammed hamada Nov 28, 2018 at 11:19amKelemvor, no it's not! you should install it on a separate server
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Pimientodeheugden Feb 22, 2019 at 08:56amWhy installing DFS at your DC and not at your Memberserver? Normally they are providing the Fileshares to the users
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Thai PepperFelipePena Mar 18, 2019 at 06:27pmVery good overview of the DFS role configuration. At my last location we used DFS extensively. This is a nice refresher.
Thank you for sharing -
Pimientospicehead-g573 Nov 14, 2019 at 10:54amHi,can DFS replication work with different OSes, like Windows Server 2012 R2 and 2016 working together?
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