Setting up Distributed File System Replication Groups in Windows Server 2022

Posted on 21st June 2023

Setting up Distributed File System Replication Groups in Windows Server 2022

In Windows Server 2022, you can set up Distributed File System (DFS) replication groups to replicate data between servers. DFS Replication is a technology that you can use to replicate data between servers across a network.

In a DFS replication group, you can specify which servers are members of the group and which folders on each server are replicated. When you add a member server to a replication group, DFS Replication creates a replica set on the member server. A replica set is a collection of folders that are replicated to other member servers in the replication group.

You can use DFS Replication to replicate data between servers in different sites. DFS Replication uses a compression algorithm to compress data before replicating it. The compression algorithm is designed to compress data so that it takes up less space on the network and on the destination servers.

DFS Replication uses a remote differential compression (RDC) algorithm to replicate only the changed data. RDC calculates a signature for each file and then compares the signature with the signatures of the files on the destination server.

If the signature of a file has changed, DFS Replication replicates only the changed data. This reduces the amount of data that is replicated over the network and the amount of space that is required on the destination servers.

When you set up a DFS replication group, you must specify the following:

• The name of the replication group.

• The type of compression to use for data replication.

• The topology of the replication group.

• The schedule for replication.

• The members of the replication group.

• The replica sets on each member server.

• The folders to replicate.

• The path to the staging folder.

• The path to the log folder.

• The path to the conflict and deleted folder.

When you create a DFS replication group, you must specify a schedule for replication. The schedule specifies when replication occurs and how often replication occurs.

You can specify a replication schedule by using a graphical user interface (GUI) or by using the command line.

To set up a DFS replication group by using a GUI

1. Open DFS Management.

2. In the console tree, click Replication.

3. In the details pane, click New Replication Group.

4. On the New Replication Group Wizard page, click Next.

5. On the Replication Group Type page, click Distributed File System Replication, and then click Next.

6. On the Replication Group Name page, type a name for the replication group, and then click Next.

7. On the Topology page, click the topology that you want to use, and then click Next.

8. On the Schedule page, click the schedule that you want to use, and then click Next.

9. On the Members page, click Add, click the server that you want to add, and then click OK.

10. Repeat step 9 for each server that you want to add to the replication group.

11. Click Next.

12. On the Replica Sets page, click Add.

13. Type the name of the replica set, and then click Browse.

14. In the Browse For Folder dialog box, click the folder that you want to replicate, and then click OK.

15. Click Next.

16. On the Folders page, click Add, click the folder that you want to replicate, and then click OK.

17. Repeat step 16 for each folder that you want to replicate.

18. Click Next.

19. On the Staging Folder page, click Browse, click the folder where you want to store the staged files, and then click OK.

20. Click Next.

21. On the Log Folder page, click Browse, click the folder where you want to store the log files, and then click OK.

22. Click Next.

23. On the Conflict and Deleted Folder page, click Browse, click the folder where you want to store the conflict and deleted files, and then click OK.

24. Click Next.

25. On the Ready to Create Replication Group page, review the settings, and then click Create.

26. On the Confirm Creation of Replication Group page, click Yes.

27. On the Completion page, click Finish.

To set up a DFS replication group by using the command line

1. Type the following command, and then press Enter:

dfsradmin groupname /create

2. Type the following command, and then press Enter:

dfsradmin groupname /member:servername /add

3. Repeat step 2 for each server that you want to add to the replication group.

4. Type the following command, and then press Enter:

dfsradmin groupname /replica:servername /add

5. Repeat step 4 for each server on which you want to create a replica set.

6. Type the following command, and then press Enter:

dfsradmin groupname /replica:servername /folder:foldername /add

7. Repeat step 6 for each folder that you want to replicate.

8. Type the following command, and then press Enter:

dfsradmin groupname /commit

9. Type the following command, and then press Enter:

dfsradmin groupname /enable

You can use the DFS Management snap-in to monitor the progress of replication. The snap-in displays the replication status for each member server and replica set in the replication group.

The following table describes the replication status for each member server and replica set.

Replication Status

Description

In Sync

The replica set on the member server is in sync with the other replica sets in the replication group.

Out of Sync

The replica set on the member server is not in sync with the other replica sets in the replication group.

Initial Sync

The replica set on the member server is in the process of being synchronized with the other replica sets in the replication group.

Stopped

Replication is not occurring for the member server or replica set.

Configuring the DFSR Service

Next, you’ll need to configure the DFSR service on each server. To do this, open the DFS Management console and click on the “DFSR-GlobalSettings” object in the console tree. This will open the “DFS Replication” Properties dialog box. Select the “Enable this computer as a member of a replication group” check box and click “OK”.

Now, you’ll need to create a new replication group. To do this, right-click on the “Replication” object in the console tree and select “New Replication Group” from the context menu. This will open the “New Replication Group Wizard”.

On the “Welcome” page of the wizard, enter a name for the replication group and click “Next”. On the “Select the topology for this replication group” page, select the “Full Mesh” topology and click “Next”. On the “Specify the servers you want to add to this replication group” page, add the servers that you want to include in the replication group and click “Next”.

On the “Specify the folders you want to replicate” page, add the folders that you want to replicate and click “Next”. On the “Configure Advanced Settings” page, you can configure the advanced settings for the replication group. When you are finished, click “Next”. On the “Confirm Selections” page, review your selections and click “Create”.

On the “Create Replication Group Wizard Complete” page, click “Finish”.