New to server 2k3, DFS confuses me

[JJSRich]

I am trying to set up Roaming Profiles, and some of our users have absolutely huge profiles, so I was looking to DFS as recommended here :

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/ar...e-Folder-Redirection-Windows-Server-2003.html

to store redirected folders and user profiles. I want to have it ready to go before I start testing out the roaming profiles.

So, I have 2 NAS's with shares on them, ready to be used for DFS, replication between them is a must. There are shares for both redirected folders and roaming profiles. I have an R2 DC as well, already doing some nifty Active Directory stuff.

I tried looking at various Microsoft help pages, but they left a lot of holes, or were for earlier versions of DFS. Help please...

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

Have you been here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc787066.aspx

________________________________________
Achieving a perception of high intelligence level can only be limited by your manipulation skills of the Google algorithm!

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

Step-By-Step HERE:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc737358.aspx

________________________________________
Achieving a perception of high intelligence level can only be limited by your manipulation skills of the Google algorithm!

 

[Zelandakh]

You've got 2 separate things going on. Roaming profiles are great as they allow anyone to have their desktop on any machine and folder redirection stops them having critical files on their desktops when their machine fails.

DFS is a centralised method of back end moving your shares as you wish.

Without DFS, users go to \\server1\share1, \\server2\share35 and so on. When you move servers, they have to get used to the new location.

DFS puts all shares in one pot:
Share1
Share2
Share35

You then point them to the correct share on the correct server. Makes everything simpler.

Now - what are you stuck with exactly?

 

[JJSRich]

ok, maybe I was wrong about my server version.. easy way to check?

When following the howto (thanks for the effort TechyMcSe2k), I didn't find the program called DFS Management, but rather something called Distributed File System, which is similar in appearance to the program in the howto, but the howto gives things different names, and my program appears to be missing the raw functionality I need. I also found howtos for 2003, not R2, but they bore even less similarity to what I've got, so thanks for the effort.

Any ideas what to check next, and does it matter that where I want to store the data reside on Linux+Samba servers?

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

right click My Computer and click on properties

or...make a text file on your desktop of the server..rename the extension .nfo (name doesnt matter) then double click on it. ignore/click OK to the error and the System information will come right up for you.

________________________________________
Achieving a perception of high intelligence level can only be limited by your manipulation skills of the Google algorithm!

 

[Zelandakh]

As long as the sharing is set up correctly and you've got them as domain members, you should be fine.

 

[JJSRich]

Will get back to you, on holiday for a week. Yay!

 

[Zelandakh]

Oh rub it in why don't you...

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

I could use a freakin' holiday!!! agh!

________________________________________
Achieving a perception of high intelligence level can only be limited by your manipulation skills of the Google algorithm!

 

[JJSRich]

It's showing up as

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
Version 5.2 3790 Service Pack 2 Build 3790

Here's the steps I've been taking in an attempt to figure this out (directory for roaming profiles)

[ol]
[li]Start > Administrative tools > Distributed File System
Action > New Root (starts wizard)[/li]
[li]Select type of root you want to create : Domain Root[/li]
[li]Domain to host the root : our local domain[/li]
[li]Server Name : FO-DC1 (the 2k3 server)[/li]
[li]Root name : Profiles[/li]
[/ol]

Here is where I get stuck. I don't want to be using the local storage on this server to host the profiles and redirected folders. I want those stored on the ReadyNAS 1100 boxes called Filestore and Filestore-b, each has a share called profiles for this attempt.

Here are the additional steps I've taken.

[ol]
[li]right-click the Root target > New Link : link name FS1, path is \\Filestore\profiles[/li]
[li]right-click on FS1 > new target : path is \\Filestore-b\profiles[/li]
[/ol]
Now it all falls apart when tring to set up replication.
[ul]
[li]right-click FS1 > Configure replication (launches wizard)[/li]
[/ul]

Nothing shows up as available for replication, apparently the ReadyNAS's are not reporting free space.

After some googling, it turns out the ReadyNAS doesn't support DFS replication (Supported in Samba, not in RedyNAS). Is there any reason that I can't use an external copy program, i.e. rsync, to copy from \\Filestore\profiles to \\Filestore-b\profiles and still have some element of load balancing, or will it all go horribly, horribly wrong?