[ActiveDir] DFS vs Robocopy question
Hi all I'm looking for feedback on a couple of scenarios for our environment. We have three W2K3 SP1 domains and WAN separated regions in a couple of them. When deploying software, hotfixes and such I want to go to the 'distribution point' for that domain/region so as not to traverse the WAN for downloads. Each distribution point needs to mirror the others. Each region has an app server where we maintain these distribution points for downloads, patches and such and currently is managed manually as far as keeping each server identical to the other. I'm not familiar with DFS other than what is and does and have not configured or used it. Robocopy seems okay but also has a lot of configuration to deal with. DFS seems to be the best but wanted to see what the experts thought. My concern is if I create the DFS hierarchy I'd still be pointed to one server for the files. In reading the documentation I see multiple roots can be established which I'm hoping would provide access to each regional distribution point and still replicate the latest uploads from one point to all others. Appreciate any feedback. Thanks Jerry smime.p7s Description: S/MIME cryptographic signature
RE: [ActiveDir] DFS vs Robocopy question
That's a huge question which can be answered in 10,000 words [ over to
joe :) ], or with a 'go read up on DFSR, the newer version of DFS' :)
DFS is site aware, uses AD replication topologies, uses compression,
replicates deltas only etc etc.
As usual, whether one product is more suited than the other - 'it
depends'.
Try starting here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/storage/dfs/defa
ult.mspx
neil
-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Condra, Jerry W
Mr HP
Sent: 06 December 2006 16:34
To: ActiveDir@mail.activedir.org
Subject: [ActiveDir] DFS vs Robocopy question
Hi all
I'm looking for feedback on a couple of scenarios for our environment.
We have three W2K3 SP1 domains and WAN separated regions in a couple of
them.
When deploying software, hotfixes and such I want to go to the
'distribution point' for that domain/region so as not to traverse the
WAN for downloads.
Each distribution point needs to mirror the others. Each region has an
app server where we maintain these distribution points for downloads,
patches and such and currently is managed manually as far as keeping
each server identical to the other. I'm not familiar with DFS other than
what is and does and have not configured or used it. Robocopy seems okay
but also has a lot of configuration to deal with. DFS seems to be the
best but wanted to see what the experts thought. My concern is if I
create the DFS hierarchy I'd still be pointed to one server for the
files. In reading the documentation I see multiple roots can be
established which I'm hoping would provide access to each regional
distribution point and still replicate the latest uploads from one point
to all others.
Appreciate any feedback.
Thanks
Jerry
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Re: [ActiveDir] DFS vs Robocopy question
How much data do you want to keep in sync between the distribution points? Cheers M@ On 12/6/06, Condra, Jerry W Mr HP [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi all I'm looking for feedback on a couple of scenarios for our environment. We have three W2K3 SP1 domains and WAN separated regions in a couple of them. When deploying software, hotfixes and such I want to go to the 'distribution point' for that domain/region so as not to traverse the WAN for downloads. Each distribution point needs to mirror the others. Each region has an app server where we maintain these distribution points for downloads, patches and such and currently is managed manually as far as keeping each server identical to the other. I'm not familiar with DFS other than what is and does and have not configured or used it. Robocopy seems okay but also has a lot of configuration to deal with. DFS seems to be the best but wanted to see what the experts thought. My concern is if I create the DFS hierarchy I'd still be pointed to one server for the files. In reading the documentation I see multiple roots can be established which I'm hoping would provide access to each regional distribution point and still replicate the latest uploads from one point to all others. Appreciate any feedback. Thanks Jerry
RE: [ActiveDir] DFS vs Robocopy question
I prefer DFS over Robocopy as DFS stores it information in a central location.. Active Directory ;-)) I would go for DFS replicated with DFS-R, which is available on R2 servers. DFS-R is so much cooler when compared with NTFRS. For example DFS-R ONLY replicates changes whereas NTFRS replicates everything, even when only ONE bit has changed. Independent of which replication mechanism used, DFS is a site aware service. It tries to locate the nearest Root Target and Link Target. However, be aware that when auto site link bridging is disable you need additional configuration with REPADMIN. Remember however, domain based DFS is just like it says...domain-based and not forest based. A domain DFS namespace can only have root targets from the domain where the DFS namespace exists and not from other domains. So, DCs from the domain that hosts the domain based DFS root must be available and preferably nearby as those are contacted to refer the client to the DFS root, even if a client is in another domain in the forest. The DFS link targets can be in any domain however. So if a client wants to connect to \\SOMEDOMAIN.COM\DFSROOT$\DFSLINK 1 it contacts a DC in the SOMEDOMAIN.COM 2 the DCs checks the nearest DFS root for DFSROOT$ and refers the client to it 2 the client contacts the DFS root and refers the client to the nearest DFS link target for DFSLINK I could tell you a complete story about DFS and DFS-R but you can also read it yourself. You might wanna have a look at: Designing Distributed File Systems http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/library/1aa249c0-40f3-4974-b67f-e650b602415e1033.mspx?mfr=true Met vriendelijke groeten / Kind regards, __ MVP Profile → https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile=f8c04f4a-bff2-453e-9aed-7dfedab0be10 MVP Home Site → https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/ MVP Overview → https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpexecsum BLOG → http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/jorge/default.aspx __ -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:ActiveDir- [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Condra, Jerry W Mr HP Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 17:34 To: ActiveDir@mail.activedir.org Subject: [ActiveDir] DFS vs Robocopy question Hi all I'm looking for feedback on a couple of scenarios for our environment. We have three W2K3 SP1 domains and WAN separated regions in a couple of them. When deploying software, hotfixes and such I want to go to the 'distribution point' for that domain/region so as not to traverse the WAN for downloads. Each distribution point needs to mirror the others. Each region has an app server where we maintain these distribution points for downloads, patches and such and currently is managed manually as far as keeping each server identical to the other. I'm not familiar with DFS other than what is and does and have not configured or used it. Robocopy seems okay but also has a lot of configuration to deal with. DFS seems to be the best but wanted to see what the experts thought. My concern is if I create the DFS hierarchy I'd still be pointed to one server for the files. In reading the documentation I see multiple roots can be established which I'm hoping would provide access to each regional distribution point and still replicate the latest uploads from one point to all others. Appreciate any feedback. Thanks Jerry 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. If you are not an intended recipient then please promptly delete this e-mail and any attachment and all copies and inform the sender. Thank you. List info : http://www.activedir.org/List.aspx List FAQ: http://www.activedir.org/ListFAQ.aspx List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir@mail.activedir.org/
RE: [ActiveDir] DFS vs Robocopy question
Initially the data size to be distributed is about 60G but that's subject to shrink and grow as needed. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Matheesha Weerasinghe Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 11:32 AM To: ActiveDir@mail.activedir.org Subject: Re: [ActiveDir] DFS vs Robocopy question How much data do you want to keep in sync between the distribution points? Cheers M@ On 12/6/06, Condra, Jerry W Mr HP [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi all I'm looking for feedback on a couple of scenarios for our environment. We have three W2K3 SP1 domains and WAN separated regions in a couple of them. When deploying software, hotfixes and such I want to go to the 'distribution point' for that domain/region so as not to traverse the WAN for downloads. Each distribution point needs to mirror the others. Each region has an app server where we maintain these distribution points for downloads, patches and such and currently is managed manually as far as keeping each server identical to the other. I'm not familiar with DFS other than what is and does and have not configured or used it. Robocopy seems okay but also has a lot of configuration to deal with. DFS seems to be the best but wanted to see what the experts thought. My concern is if I create the DFS hierarchy I'd still be pointed to one server for the files. In reading the documentation I see multiple roots can be established which I'm hoping would provide access to each regional distribution point and still replicate the latest uploads from one point to all others. Appreciate any feedback. Thanks Jerry List info : http://www.activedir.org/List.aspx List FAQ: http://www.activedir.org/ListFAQ.aspx List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir@mail.activedir.org/
RE: [ActiveDir] DFS vs Robocopy question
Jerry, Take a look at DirSync (http://www.archersoft.com/). James Blair -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Condra, Jerry W Mr HP Sent: Thursday, 7 December 2006 5:13 AM To: ActiveDir@mail.activedir.org Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] DFS vs Robocopy question Initially the data size to be distributed is about 60G but that's subject to shrink and grow as needed. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Matheesha Weerasinghe Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 11:32 AM To: ActiveDir@mail.activedir.org Subject: Re: [ActiveDir] DFS vs Robocopy question How much data do you want to keep in sync between the distribution points? Cheers M@ On 12/6/06, Condra, Jerry W Mr HP [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi all I'm looking for feedback on a couple of scenarios for our environment. We have three W2K3 SP1 domains and WAN separated regions in a couple of them. When deploying software, hotfixes and such I want to go to the 'distribution point' for that domain/region so as not to traverse the WAN for downloads. Each distribution point needs to mirror the others. Each region has an app server where we maintain these distribution points for downloads, patches and such and currently is managed manually as far as keeping each server identical to the other. I'm not familiar with DFS other than what is and does and have not configured or used it. Robocopy seems okay but also has a lot of configuration to deal with. DFS seems to be the best but wanted to see what the experts thought. My concern is if I create the DFS hierarchy I'd still be pointed to one server for the files. In reading the documentation I see multiple roots can be established which I'm hoping would provide access to each regional distribution point and still replicate the latest uploads from one point to all others. Appreciate any feedback. Thanks Jerry List info : http://www.activedir.org/List.aspx List FAQ: http://www.activedir.org/ListFAQ.aspx List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir@mail.activedir.org/ Note: This email, including any attachments, is confidential. If you have received this email in error, please advise the sender and delete it and all copies of it from your system. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you must not use, print, distribute, copy or disclose its content to anyone. List info : http://www.activedir.org/List.aspx List FAQ: http://www.activedir.org/ListFAQ.aspx List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir@mail.activedir.org/
