If you notice something missing then you can restore SYSVOL on DC1 and mark it as authoritative. DFS Replication uses RDC, which computes the blocks in the file that have changed and sends only those blocks over the network. This ensures that the only available copy of the file is the encrypted version on the server. Type Dcdiag /e /test:sysvolcheck /test:advertising >c:\sysvolcheck.txt. Its not all AD here, by the way we greatly extended the ease of operations without the need for WMIC.EXE, DFSRDIAG.EXE, etc. You can use the Dfsrdiag command line tool to specify a static port instead of the ephemeral port. To use cross-file RDC, one member of the replication connection must be running an edition of Windows that supports cross-file RDC. You know how it is. The following attribute values are set by using the SetFileAttributes dwFileAttributes function, and they are replicated by DFS Replication. DFS Replication doesn't support replicating files on Cluster Shared Volumes. Although DFS Replication will work at dial-up speeds, it can get backlogged if there are large numbers of changes to replicate. Accurate times are also important for garbage collection, schedules, and other features. DFS Replication does replicate files that are encrypted by using non-Microsoft software, but only if it does not set the FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ENCRYPTED attribute value on the file. DFS Replication in Windows Server2008 includes several performance enhancements, as discussed in Distributed File System, a topic in Changes in Functionality from Windows Server 2003 with SP1 to Windows Server 2008. Open an Administrative Command Prompt. Additionally, the changed timestamp is not replicated to other members of the replication group unless other changes are made to the file. Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support. DFS Replication replicates volumes on which Single Instance Storage (SIS) is enabled. Yes. Files are also staged on the receiving member as they are transferred if they are less than 64 KB in size, although you can configure this setting between 16 KB and 1 MB. Run the DFSRADMIN.EXE command-line tool N times, or run N arguments as part of the BULK command-line option. By now, you know that DFS Replication has some major new features in Windows Server 2012 R2 . You can replicate sparse files. Yes. Applications other than DFS Replication can be hosted on the same server depending on the server configuration. RDC is used when the file exceeds a minimum size threshold. If remote differential compression (RDC) is enabled on the connection, inbound replication of a file larger than 64KB that began replicating immediately prior to the schedule closing (or changing to No bandwidth) continues when the schedule opens (or changes to something other than No bandwidth). SYSVOL is replicated using DFSR. For experienced DFSR administrators, heres a breakout of the Dfsradmin.exe and Dfsrdiag.exe console applications to their new Windows PowerShell cmdlet equivalents. The old admin tools work against one node at a time DFSR Windows PowerShell should scale without extensive scripting. DFS Replication does not perform bandwidth sensing. These are all now implemented directly in the new cmdlet. Log Name: DFS Replication Checking domain controller configuration DFS Configuration Size of all replicated files on a server: 100 terabytes. Keywords: Classic DFSRDIAG is part of the DFS Management Tools and it's not being installed by default. If any part of the file is already being transmitted, DFS Replication continues the transmission. The following are best practices for implementing file screens or quotas: The hidden DfsrPrivate folder must not be subject to quotas or file screens. DFS Replication instead moves the older folder(s) to the local Conflict and Deleted folder. 2. 7 The legacy DFSR administration tools do not have the capability to list or restore preserved files from the ConflictAndDeleted folder and the PreExisting folder. This is useful for users who travel between two branch offices and want to be able to access their files at either branch or while offline. For information about pre-seeding and cloning the DFSR database, see DFS Replication Initial Sync in Windows Server 2012 R2: Attack of the Clones. The following table shows which editions of the Windows operating system support cross-file RDC. 3. entry to increase the tested number of replicated files on a volume. Yes. Dfsrdiag which is included in Windows Server 2003 doesn't support filehash option. An example is shown below which ignores the schedule for a minute. IT pros have strong feelings about Windows PowerShell, but if they can be turned, theyd be a powerful ally. More info about Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge. Today we dig into the most comprehensive new feature, DFSR Windows PowerShell . Replication starts soon after a file change is detected (generally within seconds). However, the reparse tag and reparse data buffers are not replicated to other servers because the reparse point only works on the local system. Start the DFSR service on the domain controller that was set as authoritative in Step 2. Yes. And if you used DFSMGMT.MSC, youd have to navigate through this: With the underlying DFSR Windows PowerShell , you now have very easy scripting options to tie together cmdlets into basic do everything for me with one command functions, if you prefer. No. Bandwidth throttling can be also set as a connection-level setting using DFS Management. CN=SYSVOL Subscription,CN=Domain System Volume,CN=DFSR-LocalSettings,CN=,OU=Domain Controllers,DC= msDFSR-Enabled=FALSE. This can take up to an hour, and I have things do. List replicated folders in a replication group: dfsradmin rf list /rgname:<REPL_GROUP>. However, if you're replicating data across multiple sites and users won't edit the same files at the same time, DFS Replication provides greater bandwidth and simpler management. SIS is used by Remote Installation Services (RIS), Windows Deployment Services (WDS), and Windows Storage Server. This ensures that the RPC communication across the Internet is always encrypted. Start the DFSR service on the other non-authoritative DCs. That domain controller has now done a D2 of sysvol replication. RDC computes differences at the block level irrespective of file data type. RDC detects insertions, removals, and rearrangements of data in files, enabling DFS Replication to replicate only the changes when files are updated. entry to add discussion of ReFS. DFS Replication is a service that runs under the local system account, so you do not need to log in as administrator to replicate. Yes. Lets start with the simple case of creating a replication topology with two servers that will be used to synchronize a single folder. Make sure to install DFSR management tools. When a quota threshold is reached, it cleans out some of those files. Windows Server 2012 R2 introduced these capabilities for the first time as in-box options via Windows PowerShell. Data replicates according to the schedule you set. DFS Replication can't be used to replicate mailboxes hosted on Microsoft Exchange Server. This occurs because Windows applies the System and Hidden attributes to the volume root folder by default. Force sysvol replication. Install DFS Management Tools with PowerShell Run PowerShell as administrator and run the following cmdlet. No. You can choose a topology when you create a replication group. Out of the gate, DFSR Windows PowerShell saves you a significant amount of code generation and navigation. This can fix an issue where your group policy objects are. RDC divides a file into blocks. Dfsrdiag.exe is a command-line tool that can generate a backlog count or trigger a propagation test. It remains there until Conflict and Deleted folder cleanup, which occurs when the Conflict and Deleted folder exceeds the configured size or DFS Replication encounters an Out of disk space error. Computer: DC2.edu.vantaa.fi DFS Replication won't replicate files or folders that are encrypted using the Encrypting File System (EFS). dfsrdiag can also be used for inspecting SYSVOL backlog when DFS-R SYSVOL replication is enabled: dfsrdiag backlog /rgname:"Domain System Volume" /rfname:"SYSVOL Share" /smem:DC1 /rmem:DC2 A word of warning if you want to run commands like the one above in PowerShell: parameters with spaces are a major pain in the rear. Administrators instead had to make direct WMI calls via WMIC or Get-WmiObject/Invoke-WmiMethod . However, you must open the proper ports in external firewalls. You must be a registered user to add a comment. For more information, see Review Requirements for DFS Replication (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=182264). Watch here as Windows PowerShell autocompletes all my typing and guides me through the minimum required commands to setup my RG: (If you can't see the preview, go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJZc2idVEu4). For more information, see Distributed File System Replication Cmdlets in Windows PowerShell. Cross-file RDC allows DFS Replication to use RDC even when a file with the same name does not exist at the client end. Edited the Does DFS Replication replicate NTFS file permissions, alternate data streams, hard links, and reparse points? There is no guarantee that conflicting files will be saved. 100 read-only servers added in a hub and spoke, using four commands, a text file, and some variables and aliases used to save my poor little nubbin fingers. Update May 2014: See it all in video! click Create Diagnostic Report. Heres a simple example put together by our Windows PowerShell developer, Daniel Ong, that shows this off: Its pretty nifty, check out this short demo video. DFSRDIAG - DFS SyncNow - n StopNow - n PollAD - Active Directory DumpAdCfg - AD DumpMachineCfg - DFS For a list of recent changes to this topic, see the Change history section of this topic. If the local path of the replicated folder on the destination server(s) is also a volume root, no further changes are made to the folder attributes. Updates for the latest version of Windows Server. 3. For example, D:\Sales and D:\Accounting can be the root paths for two replicated folders, but D:\Sales and D:\Sales\Reports cannot be the root paths for two replicated folders. If the connection goes down, DFS Replication will keep trying to replicate while the schedule is open. If I was still using DFSRDIAG.EXE POLLAD, Id be on server 8 of 100 by the time that cmdlet returned from doing all of them. Edited the Does DFS Replication work on ReFS or FAT volumes? Run DFSMGMT.MSC, browsing and clicking your way through adding the servers and their local configurations. Do not use DFS Replication in an environment where multiple users update or modify the same files simultaneously on different servers. For more information, see Add a Failover Cluster to a Replication Group (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=155085). You can also force replication by using the Sync-DfsReplicationGroup cmdlet, included in the DFSR PowerShell module introduced with Windows Server2012R2, or the Dfsrdiag SyncNow command. DFS Management is included with Windows Server2012R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server2008R2, Windows Server2008, and Windows Server2003R2. To remove a server from a specific membership but leave them in an RG, set their membership state to disabled using Set-DfsrMembership DisableMembership $true . Use the DFS Replication Management Pack for System Center Operations Manager to create alerts that are based on specified conditions. No. Not everyone is a DFSR expert DFSR Windows PowerShell should default to the recommended configuration. You'll see Event ID 4114 in the DFSR event log indicating sysvol replication is no longer being replicated on each of them. DFSRDIAG POLLAD You'll see Event ID 4614 and 4604 in the DFSR event log indicating sysvol replication has been initialized. Yes. However, when hosting multiple applications or server roles on a single server, it is important that you test this configuration before implementing it in a production environment. The sample is useable for simpler setup cases and also demonstrates (with plenty of comments!) Microsoft does not support creating NTFS hard links to or from files in a replicated folder doing so can cause replication issues with the affected files. Today we walk through all of these new capabilities and show you how, with our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy . Now that I have an updated schedule, I must wait for all the DFSR servers to poll active directory individually and pick up these changes, right? 2. Changed portions of files are compressed before being sent for all file types except the following (which are already compressed): .wma, .wmv, .zip, .jpg, .mpg, .mpeg, .m1v, .mp2, .mp3, .mpa, .cab, .wav, .snd, .au, .asf, .wm, .avi, .z, .gz, .tgz, and .frx. Servers running Windows Server2003R2 don't support using DFS Replication to replicate the SYSVOL folder. No. Replication Group ID: A241B44A-1857-4136-8293-E8BA1FC875E9. If the application opens the file with read-share access, the file can still be replicated. Its not surprising if youre wary. This new setup should be humming now no schedule issues, big staging, no bottlenecks. Servers running Windows Server 2003 R2 don't support using DFS Replication to replicate the SYSVOL folder. In addition, DFS Replication has its own filter mechanism for files and folders that you can use to exclude certain files and file types from replication. This means that during initial replication, the primary member's files will always overwrite other versions of the files on other members of the replication group. Still not convinced, eh? When replicating a volume that contains the Windows system folder, DFS Replication recognizes the %WINDIR% folder and does not replicate it. These are major pitfalls to DFSR administrators, especially when first learning the product. In addition, DFS Replication can be used to replicate standalone DFS namespaces, which was not possible with FRS. To recover files directly from the ConflictAndDeleted or PreExisting folder, use the Get-DfsrPreservedFiles and Restore-DfsrPreservedFiles Windows PowerShell cmdlets (included with the DFSR module in Windows Server2012R2), or the RestoreDFSR sample script from the MSDN Code Gallery. No. Set the DFS Replication service Startup Type to Manual, and stop the service on all domain controllers in the domain. DFS Replication does not explicitly require time synchronization between servers. I start to poke around in DFSMGMT and see that undoing all these little nuggets is going to be a real pain in the tuchus, as there are hundreds of customizations. This prevents DFS Replication from replicating these files until they are closed. For example, if a user copies a 10megabyte (MB) file onto serverA (which is then at the hard limit) and another user copies a 5MB file onto serverB, when the next replication occurs, both servers will exceed the quota by 5 megabytes. Backlog shows you how many files still need to replicate before two computers are in sync. For more information, see DFS Replication Initial Sync in Windows Server 2012 R2: Attack of the Clones. There are a number of ways to monitor replication: DFS Replication has a management pack for System Center Operations Manager that provides proactive monitoring. If you had more than one affected DC, expand the steps to include ALL of them as well. DFS Replication can replicate numerous folders between servers. Use dfsrdiag on several files and if it returns the same hashes, then it's safe to assume that all other files were restored correctly too. 2. The file system policy reapplies NTFS permissions at every Group Policy refresh interval. "DFSRDIAG SyncNow" for "DFS-R Replication Connection" "DFSRDIAG PollAD" for "DFS Replication Service" All tasks are executed in the "DFS Replication Monitoring Account" security context and are returning verbose output of the actions performed. DC2 on SiteB is missing several Group Policy folders under SYSVOL when compared to DC1. During the recovery, this volume is not available for replication in either direction. List members of a replication group: For information about the supported scenarios, see Microsoft's Support Statement Around Replicated User Profile Data (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=201282). DFS Replication renames the file on all other members of the replication group during the next replication. To secure data transfers across the Internet, the DFS Replication service is designed to always use the authentication-level constant, RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_PRIVACY. DFS Replication then uses Remote Differential Compression (RDC) to perform a synchronization that determines whether the data is the same on the sending and receiving members. The contents of the file are not replicated unless the contents change as well. For more information, see SetFileAttributes Function in the MSDN library (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=182269). Yes. User: N/A There's no indication of recent dirty shutdown on DC2 event viewer logs. In the File Replication Service (FRS), it was controlled through the D2 and D4 data values for the Bur Flags registry values, but these values don't exist for the Distributed File System Replication (DFSR) service. The reparse tag and reparse data buffers are not replicated to other servers because the reparse point only works on the local system. RDC is not used on files smaller than 64KB and might not be beneficial on high-speed LANs where network bandwidth is not contended. How to force an authoritative and non-authoritative synchronization for DFSR-replicated SYSVOL (like "D4/D2" for FRS), https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2218556, Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. New-DfsReplicationGroup -GroupName "RG01" | New-DfsReplicatedFolder -FolderName "RF01" | Add-DfsrMember -ComputerName SRV01,SRV02,SRV03, Add-DfsrConnection -GroupName "rg01" -SourceComputerName srv01 -DestinationComputerName srv02, Set-DfsrMembership -GroupName "rg01" -FolderName "rf01" -ComputerName srv01 -ContentPath c:\rf01 PrimaryMember $true, Get-DfsrConnection -GroupName * | Set-DfsrConnectionSchedule -ScheduleType UseGroupSchedule, Get-DfsrMember -GroupName * | Update-DfsrConfigurationFromAD, Get-DfsrMember -GroupName "rg01 " | Set-DfsrMembership -FolderName "rf01" -StagingPathQuotaInMB (1024 * 32) -force, Get-DfsrMember -GroupName * | Set-DfsrServiceConfiguration -DebugLogSeverity 5 -MaximumDebugLogFiles 1250, Restore-DfsrPreservedFiles -Path "C:\RF01\DfsrPrivate\PreExistingManifest.xml" -RestoreToOrigin, Start-DfsrPropagationTest -GroupName "rg01 " -FolderName * -ReferenceComputerName srv01, Write-DfsrPropagationReport -GroupName "rg01 "-FolderName * -ReferenceComputerName srv01 -verbose, Get-DfsrBacklog -GroupName rg01 -FolderName * -SourceComputerName srv02 -DestinationComputerName srv01 -verbose, Get-DfsrBacklog -GroupName rg01 -FolderName * -SourceComputerName srv02 -DestinationComputerName srv01 -verbose | ft FullPathName, (Get-DfsrBacklog -GroupName "RG01" -FolderName "RF01" -SourceComputerName SRV02 -DestinationComputerName SRV01 -Verbose 4>&1).Message.Split(':')[2], Get-DfsrState -ComputerName srv01 | Sort UpdateState -descending | ft path,inbound,UpdateState,SourceComputerName -auto -wrap, Get-DfsrPreservedFiles -Path C:\rf01\DfsrPrivate\ConflictAndDeletedManifest.xml | ft preservedreason,path,PreservedName -auto, Get-DfsrMembership -GroupName * -ComputerName srv01 | sort path | % { Get-DfsrPreservedFiles -Path ($_.contentpath + "\dfsrprivate\conflictanddeletedmanifest.xml") } | ft path,PreservedReason, DFS Replication in Windows Server 2012 R2: If You Only Knew the Power of the Dark Shell, major new features in Windows Server 2012 R2, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJZc2idVEu4:0:0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJZc2idVEu4), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1SuGREIOTE:0:0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1SuGREIOTE), DFSR best practices info from Warren Williams.