Replicate a Folder in the Namespace Using DFS Replication

In this task, you enable DFS Replication on the Tools folder. If you recall from "Task 4: Add Folders to the Namespace," you created two folder targets for the Tools folder. Because users can be directed to either one of the folder targets, you need to ensure that the contents of the folders are kept synchronized.

If you are familiar with File Replication Service (FRS) in Windows Server 2003, you know that FRS is only supported in domain-based namespaces. In Windows Server 2008, you can use DFS Replication in both stand-alone and domain-based namespaces. Therefore, you can complete this task regardless of the type of namespace you created in "Task 1: Create a Namespace."

1. In the console tree of the DFS Management snap-in, right-click the Tools folder, and then click Replicate Folder.
2. Follow the steps in the Replicate Folder Wizard

1-Replication Group and Replicated Folder Name:

Accept the defaults.

2-Replication Eligibility:

Accept the defaults.

3-Primary Member:

If the folder targets are empty, choose either member. If both folder targets contain content, choose the member that has the most up-to-date content.

4-Topology Selection:

Select Full mesh.

5-Replication Group Schedule and Bandwidth:

Select Replicate continuously using the specified bandwidth.

6-Review Settings and Create Replication Group:

Click Create to create the replication group.

7-Confirmation:

Click Close to close the wizard.

8-Replication Delay:

Click OK to close the dialog box that warns you about the delay in initial replication.

After you finish the previous procedure, navigate to the Replication node in the console tree. Notice that a new replication group has been created, as shown in the following figure.

If you are not familiar with DFS Replication terminology, a replication group is a set of servers, known as members, that participates in the replication of one or more replicated folders. A replicated folder is a folder that is kept synchronized on each member. When you enable DFS Replication on a folder with targets, the servers that host the folder targets become members of the replication group, and the folder targets are associated with the replicated folder. The name of the replication group matches the namespace path (Contoso.com\Public\Software\Tools), and the name of the replicated folder matches the folder name (Tools).

From the Replication node, you can manage aspects of DFS Replication, such as the schedule and bandwidth usage, file and subfolder filters, and the topology (a framework of replication paths between members). On the Replicated Folders tab in the details pane, you can also view the namespace path that corresponds to the replicated folder, as shown in the following figure.

If you navigate back to the Tools folder in the Namespaces node, notice that the Replication tab in the details pane shows that the Tools folder is being replicated using DFS Replication.

If one of the folders targets contained data when you enabled DFS Replication, you can verify that replication has completed by clicking the Folder Targets tab, right-clicking the folder target that initially held no data, and then clicking Open in Explorer. After the initial replication delay, the files in this folder target should match the files in the target that initially held the data.

Another way to view the status of replication is to create a diagnostic report. You will do this in the following task.