What is DFS?
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.
DFS supports stand-alone DFS namespaces, those with one host server, and domain-based namespaces that have multiple host servers and high availability. The DFS topology data for domain-based namespaces is stored in Active Directory. The data includes the DFS root, DFS links, and DFS targets.
Installation of DFS on Server
To install the DFS on server follow the below steps:
Open Server Manager, click Manage, and then click Add Roles and Features.
The Add Roles and Features Wizard appear. Click on Next button three times.
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.
To install the DFS Namespaces service, on the Server Roles page, select DFS Namespaces and DFS Replication then click on next button two times.
Click on Install button to install the DFS on server
Once the installation completes close the screen.
Repeat these steps on second server and install the DFS and DFS Replication on that.
Configuration of DFS
Open Server Manager, click Tools, and then click DFS Management.
A DFS management Dashboard will open like below picture. Right click on Namespace and select New Namespace
In next screen browse or type server name (or click on Browse, then click on Advanced and then select the server and click on ok) and click on next,
In next screen type the name (name like Documents) and on ok and then click on next button and
Click on create button to create the namespace.
A Namespace has been created as shown in below picture. Click on close button.
Now go to DFS Dashboard and expand the Namespace, here you will see the newly created namespace (\\abc.com\Documents)
Now select this and in right side click on second tab Namespace Server
Now right click on created namespace (\\abc.com\Documents) and select Add Namespace server
In next screen type the second server name and add that and then click on ok.
Now expand the Namespace in DFS dashboard here you will see the newly created namespace (\\abc.com\Documents).
Now right click on created namespace (\\abc.com\Documents) and select New Folder
Here give the proper name (sales) and click on Add button
In next screen click on Browse, now click on Browse or type the server name and then click on show shared folders, select the shared folder and click on ok.
Note: This step is applicable if shared folder is not available.
IF shared folder is not available the click on Make New Shared Folder, a new windows will open, type the share name and click on Browse button to locate the path, select the all users have read and write permissions and click on ok.
Now go to DFS Dashboard and expand the Namespace, A new shared folder Sales has been created as shown in below picture.
