The client receives/uses a referral and must store it somewhere like in a DFS cache. For DFS there exist two tools that are available DFSUTIL and DFSCMD. The latter one can use to manage DFS links and the first one to manage roots and DFS info
############### Some info about DFSUTIL: Dfsutil.exe: Distributed File System utility Category Windows Support Tools for Windows Server 2003. Version compatibility Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003. Dfsutil allows administrators to perform advanced DFS tasks, such as enabling root scalability mode, least expensive target selection, and same-site target selection. Dfsutil is also useful for determining the size of a namespace, exporting or importing namespaces, checking the site name of a computer or IP address, adding and removing root targets, and updating site information for root servers running Windows 2000 Server. When installed on DFS clients, Dfsutil can be used to view and clear the referral cache (PKT cache), domain cache (SPC cache), and MUP cache ############### So, I think to see the DFS client side cache use: (notice the expires in....) C:\>dfsutil /PktInfo Microsoft(R) Windows(TM) Dfs Utility Version 4.0 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation 1991-2001. All Rights Reserved. --mup.sys-- 1 entries... Entry: \FOREST01.LOCAL\sysvol ShortEntry: \FOREST01.LOCAL\sysvol Expires in 300 seconds UseCount: 0 Type:0x1 ( DFS ) 0:[\W2K3F01DM01DC01.FOREST01.LOCAL\sysvol] State:0x31 ( ACTIVE ) DfsUtil command completed successfully. Cheers, Jorge -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ActiveDir@mail.activedir.org Sent: 3/22/2005 3:21 PM Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] SYSVOL Question That's an awesome explanation, but I think there is still the bit about how to tell what sysvol the client ended up using. Funny thing is, outside of a trace, I don't see that as information that's accessible. At least not easily. I'm still curious however. Al -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jorge de Almeida Pinto Sent: Monday, March 21, 2005 7:45 PM To: ActiveDir@mail.activedir.org Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] SYSVOL Question Domain controllers generate SYSVOL and NETLOGON referrals each time a client requests a referral. By default, the list of domain controllers listed in a SYSVOL or NETLOGON referral are sorted as follows: All domain controllers in the client's site are grouped in random order at the top of the list. Domain controllers outside of the client's site are listed in random order. It is possible to configure DFS to sort the domain controllers outside of the client's site in order of lowest cost. You can enable this feature by adding the SiteCostedReferrals registry entry on each domain controller and then restarting the DFS service on each domain controller. The DFS service then obtains site cost information for all domain controllers and stores this information in its site cost cache. SiteCostedReferrals Registry path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dfs\Parameters\ Version Domain controllers running Windows Server 2003. When set to 0 (the default), SYSVOL and NETLOGON referrals contain domain controllers in the client's site listed first in random order, followed by a random list of domain controllers. When set to 1, SYSVOL and NETLOGON referrals sort domain controllers in order of lowest cost. Domain controllers in the client's site are at the top of the referral list, followed by domain controllers sorted by lowest cost. Cheers Jorge -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rachui, Scott Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 21:31 To: ActiveDir@mail.activedir.org Subject: [ActiveDir] SYSVOL Question I have a question... When a user is authenticating to AD, what mechanism directs him to a particular instance of SYSVOL? And is there some way to actually see which DC the client will be preferring? I ask this because Microsoft has recently told me that in certain circumstances, clients will always choose a different DC for SYSVOL than the one they choose for authentication. But I don't know how to actually see that list so I'll know which ones are being preferred. Thanks in advance, Scott List info : http://www.activedir.org/List.aspx List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/ListFAQ.aspx List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/ This e-mail and any attachment is for authorised use by the intended recipient(s) only. It may contain proprietary material, confidential information and/or be subject to legal privilege. It should not be copied, disclosed to, retained or used by, any other party. 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