Get User to access there own DFS Root

[Keith (Netlogix)]

Morning, We have 3 server in a VPN connection over 3 sites / wireless
network. The manager has requested that we have several shares that are
replicated over all 3 sites and if a user moves site, he/she can access the
same information from every site + My Documents is redirected to the servers
as well.

I have therefore setup DFS on 2003 R2 and so far, this work great. My users
a access the DFS shares via drive letters and anythink that is saved on one
server is replicated to the other 2 servers, the problem is that the login
times are very slow. I understand that wireless networks are / can be slow
and I have turned on the required settings in a GPO for all users + setup
redirection on mydocuments to a DFS share + slowlink settings and I have also
told users to wait 30 seconds before logining in.

Is there a way to can get users to use the DFS share that is nearest to
them as I think what is happening is that the machine is looking a DFS shares
over out VPN and its taking its time. Is there a way i can find out ? or
would there be a better way of doing this ? My needs are simple. All users
must be able to move sites and see there work from any computer in all 3
sites + login speeds be better then 15 minutes.

Thanks

Regards

Keith (Netlogix) MCP

[Isaac Oben [MCITP,MCSE]]

Hello Keith,

1- Make sure all Domain controllers on each site are running fault tolerant
root namespace. If not you can add, this is just a mirror of the dfs across
domain..
to add: dfsutil.exe /addftroot /server:NameOfDC /Share:DfsNameSpaceShare
2- Also be sure that on the GPO folder redirection and on your dfs map
drive, you use \\domainName.com\DfsNameSpaceShare and not server specific.
And I am assuming that each of your 3 sites and DCs are on different
subnets, if not then you may want to make it so..Because if a user is on
SiteA, they must authenticate using DC in SiteA, and once that happens, they
will access \\domainName.com\DfsNameSpaceShare from SiteA domain
controller, thus preventing them from looking for dfs over the WAN.
And finally, you can force clients to use dfs on the logon site by editing
the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dfs "PreferLogonDC"
dword:value of 1

Hope this helps,
--
Isaac Oben [MCTIP:EA, MCSE]

Post by Keith (Netlogix)
Morning, We have 3 server in a VPN connection over 3 sites / wireless
network. The manager has requested that we have several shares that are
replicated over all 3 sites and if a user moves site, he/she can access the
same information from every site + My Documents is redirected to the servers
as well.
I have therefore setup DFS on 2003 R2 and so far, this work great. My users
a access the DFS shares via drive letters and anythink that is saved on one
server is replicated to the other 2 servers, the problem is that the login
times are very slow. I understand that wireless networks are / can be slow
and I have turned on the required settings in a GPO for all users + setup
redirection on mydocuments to a DFS share + slowlink settings and I have also
told users to wait 30 seconds before logining in.
Is there a way to can get users to use the DFS share that is nearest to
them as I think what is happening is that the machine is looking a DFS shares
over out VPN and its taking its time. Is there a way i can find out ? or
would there be a better way of doing this ? My needs are simple. All users
must be able to move sites and see there work from any computer in all 3
sites + login speeds be better then 15 minutes.
Thanks
Regards
Keith (Netlogix) MCP

[Keith (Netlogix)]

It does, I will have a look at this in more depth and let you know.

Many thanks for this.

Regards

Keith (Netlogix)

Post by Isaac Oben [MCITP,MCSE]
Hello Keith,
1- Make sure all Domain controllers on each site are running fault tolerant
root namespace. If not you can add, this is just a mirror of the dfs across
domain..
to add: dfsutil.exe /addftroot /server:NameOfDC /Share:DfsNameSpaceShare
2- Also be sure that on the GPO folder redirection and on your dfs map
drive, you use \\domainName.com\DfsNameSpaceShare and not server specific.
And I am assuming that each of your 3 sites and DCs are on different
subnets, if not then you may want to make it so..Because if a user is on
SiteA, they must authenticate using DC in SiteA, and once that happens, they
will access \\domainName.com\DfsNameSpaceShare from SiteA domain
controller, thus preventing them from looking for dfs over the WAN.
And finally, you can force clients to use dfs on the logon site by editing
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dfs "PreferLogonDC"
dword:value of 1
Hope this helps,
--
Isaac Oben [MCTIP:EA, MCSE]

Post by Keith (Netlogix)
Morning, We have 3 server in a VPN connection over 3 sites / wireless
network. The manager has requested that we have several shares that are
replicated over all 3 sites and if a user moves site, he/she can access the
same information from every site + My Documents is redirected to the servers
as well.
I have therefore setup DFS on 2003 R2 and so far, this work great. My users
a access the DFS shares via drive letters and anythink that is saved on one
server is replicated to the other 2 servers, the problem is that the login
times are very slow. I understand that wireless networks are / can be slow
and I have turned on the required settings in a GPO for all users + setup
redirection on mydocuments to a DFS share + slowlink settings and I have also
told users to wait 30 seconds before logining in.
Is there a way to can get users to use the DFS share that is nearest to
them as I think what is happening is that the machine is looking a DFS shares
over out VPN and its taking its time. Is there a way i can find out ? or
would there be a better way of doing this ? My needs are simple. All users
must be able to move sites and see there work from any computer in all 3
sites + login speeds be better then 15 minutes.
Thanks
Regards
Keith (Netlogix) MCP