DFS (Distributed File System)

DFS (Distributed File System)

DFS allows administrators to make it easier for users to access and manage file that are physically distributed across a network.

With DFS, you can make files distributed across multiple servers. It may appear for users that files actually reside in one place (computer) on the network.

Benefits of DFS

1. Easily access: users need not remember multiple locations form where they get data just by remembering one location they get access to the data.

2. Fall tolerance: for master DFS server we can have a replica (Target) on another DFS server. With the master DFS server face users can still continue accessing the data from back up DFS (Target)

There is no interruption to accessing data

3. Load balancing: if all the DFS root servers and targets are working fine it leads to load balancing.

This is achieved by specifying locations for separate users.

4. Security: We can implement security by using NTFS settings.

DFS Terminology:

1.    DFS root

2.    DFS links

3.    DFS targets

4.    Domain DFS root

5.    Stand – alone DFS root

Domain DFS root: it is a server configurable in the domain and offers fall tolerance and load balancing. It is a root server, which maintains links from other file servers

Requirements: DC or Member Server

Stand-alone DFS root: It is configurable work group model and does not provide fall tolerance &load balancing

DFS root: DFS root is the beginning of a hierarchy of DFS links that points to shared folders.

DFS link: a link from a DFS root to one or more shared file or folders.

Targets: the mapping destination of a DFS root or links, which corresponds to a physical folder that has been shared.

Implementation of DFS

Creating a DFS root:

On DC

Create a folder in any drive

Share it

Give everyone full control

Use the folder name as DFS root

Create 2 more folders for links

Share them & everyone full control

Start >p>admin tools>DFS

Right click on DFS

New root

Select domain root

Domain name

Browse the server DC

Next mention the root name

Browse the folder to share

Next – finish.

Implementing DFS links

On DC

Create 2 folders.

Share them & give full control permission

On Member Server also same process

On DC

Start > P>Admin tools>DFS>right click on DFS

New link

Link name (e.g. Germany)

Browse the share folder from DC

Ok

Create all four links two from DC & two from member server

Accessing the resources (links)

Either on DC or member server

 \\domain name\DFS root name

ex: \\zoom.com\DFS root

Implementing of DFS target:

On Dc

Open DFs

Right click on DFs root

Select new root target

Browse server name >next

Browse folder to share

Next>finish

Replication: After configuring the target we can configure the replication between DFS root and DFS target.

And this can be scheduled.

Types of replication topologies:

Ring topology

Hub & spoke topology

Mesh topology

Configuring replication between DFS root & target.

On DC

Open DFS

Right click on the DFS root

Configure replication>next

Select topology

Finish