share already exists - need to install DFS and replicate

[James]

Hello,

I need to implement DFS to replicate/mirror a folder share between a few
servers... the share already exists on one server and has over 60GB of data
(large files like OS image files and OS source files)

all servers will be server 2008 machines.

I was reading through a short 'how-to' on configuring DFS and replication
and came accross this:

http://windowsserver.trainsignal.com/configuring-distributed-file-systems

"Below the Name field you will see a space that shows you a preview of the
Namespace with this new folder. Also under that you will see Folder Targets.
This allows you to point this folder at a shared folder already on your
network.

That way you don't have to migrate files over, but be warned; if you setup
these target folders there is no replication, so if that share goes down for
any reason users will not be able to access that data."

So considering the share I need to replicate already exists and is pretty
big, and moving this folder to a new path is not really an option because
many things rely on this path, what do I need to know? what do I do?

any input would be appreciated

[DaveMills]

Post by James
Hello,
I need to implement DFS to replicate/mirror a folder share between a few
servers... the share already exists on one server and has over 60GB of data
(large files like OS image files and OS source files)
all servers will be server 2008 machines.
I was reading through a short 'how-to' on configuring DFS and replication
http://windowsserver.trainsignal.com/configuring-distributed-file-systems
"Below the Name field you will see a space that shows you a preview of the
Namespace with this new folder. Also under that you will see Folder Targets.
This allows you to point this folder at a shared folder already on your
network.
That way you don't have to migrate files over, but be warned; if you setup
these target folders there is no replication, so if that share goes down for
any reason users will not be able to access that data."
So considering the share I need to replicate already exists and is pretty
big, and moving this folder to a new path is not really an option because
many things rely on this path, what do I need to know? what do I do?
any input would be appreciated

Create the link pointing to the target UNC of the existing data folder. Now you
can use DFS paths to access the data via \\domain\dfsroot\data but do not have
replication set up yet.
Create the second share (on the second served) in the usual way
Now add it as a second link in the DFS console. The wizard will prompt you to
create a replication group for the pair of links. Follow the instructions and
then sit back and wait for replication to complete.

I suggest you do this with a test share with a bit less than 60GB of data the
first time. Play around with it for a while then go for the big stuff.

When I first did this I opened Windows Explorer on \\dom\root\data twice setting
the referral on one to SerrverA and the other to ServerB and also opened the
targets \\servera\data and \\serverB\data directly. I could then play with
creating, deleting and editing files and watch the replication. I also edited
the same file on both targets and saved them both simultaneously to observe the
"Conflict and Deleted" folder behaviour.

[James]

ok, got it, thanks Dave.

Post by DaveMills

Post by James
Hello,
I need to implement DFS to replicate/mirror a folder share between a few
servers... the share already exists on one server and has over 60GB of data
(large files like OS image files and OS source files)
all servers will be server 2008 machines.
I was reading through a short 'how-to' on configuring DFS and replication
http://windowsserver.trainsignal.com/configuring-distributed-file-systems
"Below the Name field you will see a space that shows you a preview of the
Namespace with this new folder. Also under that you will see Folder Targets.
This allows you to point this folder at a shared folder already on your
network.
That way you don't have to migrate files over, but be warned; if you setup
these target folders there is no replication, so if that share goes down for
any reason users will not be able to access that data."
So considering the share I need to replicate already exists and is pretty
big, and moving this folder to a new path is not really an option because
many things rely on this path, what do I need to know? what do I do?
any input would be appreciated

Create the link pointing to the target UNC of the existing data folder. Now you
can use DFS paths to access the data via \\domain\dfsroot\data but do not have
replication set up yet.
Create the second share (on the second served) in the usual way
Now add it as a second link in the DFS console. The wizard will prompt you to
create a replication group for the pair of links. Follow the instructions and
then sit back and wait for replication to complete.
I suggest you do this with a test share with a bit less than 60GB of data the
first time. Play around with it for a while then go for the big stuff.
When I first did this I opened Windows Explorer on \\dom\root\data twice setting
the referral on one to SerrverA and the other to ServerB and also opened the
targets \\servera\data and \\serverB\data directly. I could then play with
creating, deleting and editing files and watch the replication. I also edited
the same file on both targets and saved them both simultaneously to observe the
"Conflict and Deleted" folder behaviour.
--
Dave Mills
There are 10 types of people, those that understand binary and those that don't.

[DaveMills]

Post by James
ok, got it, thanks Dave.

Good. It is quite impressive when you see it working and begin to understand it.
Good luck.