docs/Workflows/Windows/Windows Server/Roles/DFS/Deploying DFS.md

Purpose

If you want to ensure that data is safely replicated across multiple file servers in a domain environment, you will want to set up DFS "namespaces". These are network shares that are distributed across multiple file servers, and appear as one network share. They replicate to eachother automatically, keeping both in sync with eachother. The document below outlines the process of deploying DFS across two (2) file servers.

!!! info "Assumptions" It is assumed that you have at least two Windows Server based servers already set-up, both are running the correct Editions of Windows Server (e.g. "Standard"), are activated, and are domain joined with sensible hostnames (e.g. LAB-FPS-01 and LAB-FPS-02), and that both have statically-assigned IP addresses.

Installing Server Roles

The first step you want to perform is installing the necessary roles on both servers.

• Navigate to "Server Manager > Manage > Add Roles and Features
• Click "Next" through the windows of the role wizard until you reach the "Server Roles" page
• Expand "File and Storage Services"
  • Expand "File and iSCSI Services"
    • Check "File Server"
    • Check "DFS Namespaces"
    • Check "DFS Replication"
• Click the "Next" button
• Click the "Next" button
• Click the "Install" button and wait for the installation to finish.

Create & Configure Network Shares

The next step in the process is to ensure that the network shares that will be shared via DFS have sane permissions.