Discussion:
DFS concern about FSMO roles
(too old to reply)
steve
2006-03-14 15:45:29 UTC
Permalink
hi,
i setup DFS for file sharing redundancy purpose.

In my senario, i installed DFS on 2 domain controller. Firstly, i installed
DFS on DC1 and DC2 as root target. so file sharing on the clients will swing
between these 2 DCs. My thought is DC1 is holding the FSMO roles. IF DC1
fails, my DFS will be totally Offline, instead of failover to DC2. Because AD
is stored in AD, file sharing will have problems when FSMO roles server is
down. IS my understanding correct?
It looks like a single point of failure too. and no matter where my FSMO is
holding at any DC.

pls advice

steve
Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
2006-03-15 10:26:03 UTC
Permalink
Hi,

DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator. So if the PDC goes down DFS
will run but you will not be able to manage it anymore!
So the PDC is the single point of failure!

Best thing to do is implemmenting a third DC that holds the PDC role but
does not hold any DFS function such as root targets etc.

greets,
Marco
Post by steve
hi,
i setup DFS for file sharing redundancy purpose.
In my senario, i installed DFS on 2 domain controller. Firstly, i installed
DFS on DC1 and DC2 as root target. so file sharing on the clients will swing
between these 2 DCs. My thought is DC1 is holding the FSMO roles. IF DC1
fails, my DFS will be totally Offline, instead of failover to DC2. Because AD
is stored in AD, file sharing will have problems when FSMO roles server is
down. IS my understanding correct?
It looks like a single point of failure too. and no matter where my FSMO is
holding at any DC.
pls advice
steve
steve
2006-03-15 10:46:19 UTC
Permalink
Hi Marco,

But i have tested if the PDC role is down... the DFS shared on the client is
down too meaning they cant access the DFS mapped drive.

Even the 3rd DC, as u mention DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator,
if this DC goes down, it will be the same, DFS shared on the client access
will be denied, right?

steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi,
DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator. So if the PDC goes down DFS
will run but you will not be able to manage it anymore!
So the PDC is the single point of failure!
Best thing to do is implemmenting a third DC that holds the PDC role but
does not hold any DFS function such as root targets etc.
greets,
Marco
Post by steve
hi,
i setup DFS for file sharing redundancy purpose.
In my senario, i installed DFS on 2 domain controller. Firstly, i installed
DFS on DC1 and DC2 as root target. so file sharing on the clients will swing
between these 2 DCs. My thought is DC1 is holding the FSMO roles. IF DC1
fails, my DFS will be totally Offline, instead of failover to DC2. Because AD
is stored in AD, file sharing will have problems when FSMO roles server is
down. IS my understanding correct?
It looks like a single point of failure too. and no matter where my FSMO is
holding at any DC.
pls advice
steve
Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
2006-03-15 11:29:27 UTC
Permalink
Hi,

Point is that if the PDC goes down de clients still wil work with the other
DC who also hold de DFS functions! So no harm wil be done to the connectivity
of the shares.
If the PDC and a DFS server goes down (low chance) than you will have a more
serious problem on your network than the DFS not being available. :)

In your situation: If the PDC goes offline the clients will look for the
second root targets of the DFS root and/or links! To do that they will ask
the PDC for an alternate path! If there is any! No PDC no "fail-over" for the
client will be available.
This is because the PDC-emulator holds the File Partition Table for the
entire Domain DFS.

Hope this answer satisfies your needs! Else ask!

Greets,
Marco
Post by steve
Hi Marco,
But i have tested if the PDC role is down... the DFS shared on the client is
down too meaning they cant access the DFS mapped drive.
Even the 3rd DC, as u mention DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator,
if this DC goes down, it will be the same, DFS shared on the client access
will be denied, right?
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi,
DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator. So if the PDC goes down DFS
will run but you will not be able to manage it anymore!
So the PDC is the single point of failure!
Best thing to do is implemmenting a third DC that holds the PDC role but
does not hold any DFS function such as root targets etc.
greets,
Marco
Post by steve
hi,
i setup DFS for file sharing redundancy purpose.
In my senario, i installed DFS on 2 domain controller. Firstly, i installed
DFS on DC1 and DC2 as root target. so file sharing on the clients will swing
between these 2 DCs. My thought is DC1 is holding the FSMO roles. IF DC1
fails, my DFS will be totally Offline, instead of failover to DC2. Because AD
is stored in AD, file sharing will have problems when FSMO roles server is
down. IS my understanding correct?
It looks like a single point of failure too. and no matter where my FSMO is
holding at any DC.
pls advice
steve
steve
2006-03-15 14:40:29 UTC
Permalink
Hi Marco,
Pardon me, im still confuse about your remarks below.
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Point is that if the PDC goes down de clients still wil work with the other
DC who also hold de DFS functions! So no harm wil be done to the connectivity
of the shares.
#Here u mean that even PDC is down, clients can still connect to dfs shared.
Meaning clients will connect to another dfs server. Right?
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
No PDC no "fail-over" for the client will be available.
#Your sentence is straight-forward. PDC is down, No DFS at all.

So what is what? I want to know when PDC is down,
1) will the DFS failover to another dfs server?
2) Will my clients get dis-connected from the DFS file share?

Thanks for your patience,
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi,
Point is that if the PDC goes down de clients still wil work with the other
DC who also hold de DFS functions! So no harm wil be done to the connectivity
of the shares.
If the PDC and a DFS server goes down (low chance) than you will have a more
serious problem on your network than the DFS not being available. :)
In your situation: If the PDC goes offline the clients will look for the
second root targets of the DFS root and/or links! To do that they will ask
the PDC for an alternate path! If there is any! No PDC no "fail-over" for the
client will be available.
This is because the PDC-emulator holds the File Partition Table for the
entire Domain DFS.
Hope this answer satisfies your needs! Else ask!
Greets,
Marco
Post by steve
Hi Marco,
But i have tested if the PDC role is down... the DFS shared on the client is
down too meaning they cant access the DFS mapped drive.
Even the 3rd DC, as u mention DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator,
if this DC goes down, it will be the same, DFS shared on the client access
will be denied, right?
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi,
DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator. So if the PDC goes down DFS
will run but you will not be able to manage it anymore!
So the PDC is the single point of failure!
Best thing to do is implemmenting a third DC that holds the PDC role but
does not hold any DFS function such as root targets etc.
greets,
Marco
Post by steve
hi,
i setup DFS for file sharing redundancy purpose.
In my senario, i installed DFS on 2 domain controller. Firstly, i installed
DFS on DC1 and DC2 as root target. so file sharing on the clients will swing
between these 2 DCs. My thought is DC1 is holding the FSMO roles. IF DC1
fails, my DFS will be totally Offline, instead of failover to DC2. Because AD
is stored in AD, file sharing will have problems when FSMO roles server is
down. IS my understanding correct?
It looks like a single point of failure too. and no matter where my FSMO is
holding at any DC.
pls advice
steve
Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
2006-03-15 15:02:43 UTC
Permalink
Hi Steve,

Forgive my English, it's not my native language. I am from Holland!
Situation:
1 DC - FSMO roles (PDC schema etc)
2 DC's DFS configured!

So if 1 goes down the 2 DC's with DFS wil still be working and clients wil
not notice this, because the are already connected to the DFS root! DFS root
is online even if PDC is down! (Know this from working experience)

To answer your questions:
1) will the DFS failover to another dfs server?
Nope because PDC is down! But the two "DFS" servers are still
operational and servicing client request.

2) Will my clients get dis-connected from the DFS file share?
Nope because the "DFS" servers are still operational.

In both situations if you have 3 DC's but the "PDC role holder has no DFS
configured on it". You cannot configure or manage the DFS via MMC-snapin, but
the DFS on the 2 working "DFS" servers wil just be fine and service client
requests!

Only if the PDC and one DFS server goes down (not likely to happen) you wil
lose client connectivity, because the File Partition Table isn't available!

Hope it is clearer now!

greetings,
Marco
Post by steve
Hi Marco,
Pardon me, im still confuse about your remarks below.
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Point is that if the PDC goes down de clients still wil work with the other
DC who also hold de DFS functions! So no harm wil be done to the connectivity
of the shares.
#Here u mean that even PDC is down, clients can still connect to dfs shared.
Meaning clients will connect to another dfs server. Right?
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
No PDC no "fail-over" for the client will be available.
#Your sentence is straight-forward. PDC is down, No DFS at all.
So what is what? I want to know when PDC is down,
1) will the DFS failover to another dfs server?
2) Will my clients get dis-connected from the DFS file share?
Thanks for your patience,
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi,
Point is that if the PDC goes down de clients still wil work with the other
DC who also hold de DFS functions! So no harm wil be done to the connectivity
of the shares.
If the PDC and a DFS server goes down (low chance) than you will have a more
serious problem on your network than the DFS not being available. :)
In your situation: If the PDC goes offline the clients will look for the
second root targets of the DFS root and/or links! To do that they will ask
the PDC for an alternate path! If there is any! No PDC no "fail-over" for the
client will be available.
This is because the PDC-emulator holds the File Partition Table for the
entire Domain DFS.
Hope this answer satisfies your needs! Else ask!
Greets,
Marco
Post by steve
Hi Marco,
But i have tested if the PDC role is down... the DFS shared on the client is
down too meaning they cant access the DFS mapped drive.
Even the 3rd DC, as u mention DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator,
if this DC goes down, it will be the same, DFS shared on the client access
will be denied, right?
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi,
DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator. So if the PDC goes down DFS
will run but you will not be able to manage it anymore!
So the PDC is the single point of failure!
Best thing to do is implemmenting a third DC that holds the PDC role but
does not hold any DFS function such as root targets etc.
greets,
Marco
Post by steve
hi,
i setup DFS for file sharing redundancy purpose.
In my senario, i installed DFS on 2 domain controller. Firstly, i installed
DFS on DC1 and DC2 as root target. so file sharing on the clients will swing
between these 2 DCs. My thought is DC1 is holding the FSMO roles. IF DC1
fails, my DFS will be totally Offline, instead of failover to DC2. Because AD
is stored in AD, file sharing will have problems when FSMO roles server is
down. IS my understanding correct?
It looks like a single point of failure too. and no matter where my FSMO is
holding at any DC.
pls advice
steve
steve
2006-03-15 15:30:32 UTC
Permalink
Hi Marco,

Thanks for yor explanation.
In my senario
DC1 - DFS server, 5 FSMO roles
DC2 - DFS server

When i shutdown DC1, all my clients could not access to DFS shared. it does
not failed over to the online DC2's DFS.

then i try shutdown DC2, those clients which connected to DC2 DFS at that
time, will failover to DC1 DFS.

Is my result's behaviour correct? I guess so, if my understanding to your
explanation is correct.

So the point is whenever if a DFS is unavailable, the client will query for
PDC for another DFS. if PDC is down.. no failover.
However, if PDC is not the same box as DFS server, If PDC is down, client
will still remain connected because DFS is not affected.
Bingo??

But if i host all FSMO on another DC without DFS, when this DC is down..
Isn't the whole domain will be affect.. example: domain users may not able to
login, users may not able to access domain shares folder. am i rite??

cheers,
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi Steve,
Forgive my English, it's not my native language. I am from Holland!
1 DC - FSMO roles (PDC schema etc)
2 DC's DFS configured!
So if 1 goes down the 2 DC's with DFS wil still be working and clients wil
not notice this, because the are already connected to the DFS root! DFS root
is online even if PDC is down! (Know this from working experience)
1) will the DFS failover to another dfs server?
Nope because PDC is down! But the two "DFS" servers are still
operational and servicing client request.
2) Will my clients get dis-connected from the DFS file share?
Nope because the "DFS" servers are still operational.
In both situations if you have 3 DC's but the "PDC role holder has no DFS
configured on it". You cannot configure or manage the DFS via MMC-snapin, but
the DFS on the 2 working "DFS" servers wil just be fine and service client
requests!
Only if the PDC and one DFS server goes down (not likely to happen) you wil
lose client connectivity, because the File Partition Table isn't available!
Hope it is clearer now!
greetings,
Marco
Post by steve
Hi Marco,
Pardon me, im still confuse about your remarks below.
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Point is that if the PDC goes down de clients still wil work with the other
DC who also hold de DFS functions! So no harm wil be done to the connectivity
of the shares.
#Here u mean that even PDC is down, clients can still connect to dfs shared.
Meaning clients will connect to another dfs server. Right?
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
No PDC no "fail-over" for the client will be available.
#Your sentence is straight-forward. PDC is down, No DFS at all.
So what is what? I want to know when PDC is down,
1) will the DFS failover to another dfs server?
2) Will my clients get dis-connected from the DFS file share?
Thanks for your patience,
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi,
Point is that if the PDC goes down de clients still wil work with the other
DC who also hold de DFS functions! So no harm wil be done to the connectivity
of the shares.
If the PDC and a DFS server goes down (low chance) than you will have a more
serious problem on your network than the DFS not being available. :)
In your situation: If the PDC goes offline the clients will look for the
second root targets of the DFS root and/or links! To do that they will ask
the PDC for an alternate path! If there is any! No PDC no "fail-over" for the
client will be available.
This is because the PDC-emulator holds the File Partition Table for the
entire Domain DFS.
Hope this answer satisfies your needs! Else ask!
Greets,
Marco
Post by steve
Hi Marco,
But i have tested if the PDC role is down... the DFS shared on the client is
down too meaning they cant access the DFS mapped drive.
Even the 3rd DC, as u mention DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator,
if this DC goes down, it will be the same, DFS shared on the client access
will be denied, right?
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi,
DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator. So if the PDC goes down DFS
will run but you will not be able to manage it anymore!
So the PDC is the single point of failure!
Best thing to do is implemmenting a third DC that holds the PDC role but
does not hold any DFS function such as root targets etc.
greets,
Marco
Post by steve
hi,
i setup DFS for file sharing redundancy purpose.
In my senario, i installed DFS on 2 domain controller. Firstly, i installed
DFS on DC1 and DC2 as root target. so file sharing on the clients will swing
between these 2 DCs. My thought is DC1 is holding the FSMO roles. IF DC1
fails, my DFS will be totally Offline, instead of failover to DC2. Because AD
is stored in AD, file sharing will have problems when FSMO roles server is
down. IS my understanding correct?
It looks like a single point of failure too. and no matter where my FSMO is
holding at any DC.
pls advice
steve
Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
2006-03-15 15:50:30 UTC
Permalink
BINGO!!!!!!!!

If you have a DC with all the 5 FSMO roles and it goes down! You still wil
have a functioning Domain (Not fully functioning.)

Users can still access resources and logon to another DC.
You wil eventually not be able to create new users, create new shares or set
NTFS permissions etc.

But in an event of a FSMO role holder failing you are always on Alertstatus
1 and you will try to fix the problem as soon as possible anyway!!!

good luck!!!

Marco
Post by steve
Hi Marco,
Thanks for yor explanation.
In my senario
DC1 - DFS server, 5 FSMO roles
DC2 - DFS server
When i shutdown DC1, all my clients could not access to DFS shared. it does
not failed over to the online DC2's DFS.
then i try shutdown DC2, those clients which connected to DC2 DFS at that
time, will failover to DC1 DFS.
Is my result's behaviour correct? I guess so, if my understanding to your
explanation is correct.
So the point is whenever if a DFS is unavailable, the client will query for
PDC for another DFS. if PDC is down.. no failover.
However, if PDC is not the same box as DFS server, If PDC is down, client
will still remain connected because DFS is not affected.
Bingo??
But if i host all FSMO on another DC without DFS, when this DC is down..
Isn't the whole domain will be affect.. example: domain users may not able to
login, users may not able to access domain shares folder. am i rite??
cheers,
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi Steve,
Forgive my English, it's not my native language. I am from Holland!
1 DC - FSMO roles (PDC schema etc)
2 DC's DFS configured!
So if 1 goes down the 2 DC's with DFS wil still be working and clients wil
not notice this, because the are already connected to the DFS root! DFS root
is online even if PDC is down! (Know this from working experience)
1) will the DFS failover to another dfs server?
Nope because PDC is down! But the two "DFS" servers are still
operational and servicing client request.
2) Will my clients get dis-connected from the DFS file share?
Nope because the "DFS" servers are still operational.
In both situations if you have 3 DC's but the "PDC role holder has no DFS
configured on it". You cannot configure or manage the DFS via MMC-snapin, but
the DFS on the 2 working "DFS" servers wil just be fine and service client
requests!
Only if the PDC and one DFS server goes down (not likely to happen) you wil
lose client connectivity, because the File Partition Table isn't available!
Hope it is clearer now!
greetings,
Marco
Post by steve
Hi Marco,
Pardon me, im still confuse about your remarks below.
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Point is that if the PDC goes down de clients still wil work with the other
DC who also hold de DFS functions! So no harm wil be done to the connectivity
of the shares.
#Here u mean that even PDC is down, clients can still connect to dfs shared.
Meaning clients will connect to another dfs server. Right?
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
No PDC no "fail-over" for the client will be available.
#Your sentence is straight-forward. PDC is down, No DFS at all.
So what is what? I want to know when PDC is down,
1) will the DFS failover to another dfs server?
2) Will my clients get dis-connected from the DFS file share?
Thanks for your patience,
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi,
Point is that if the PDC goes down de clients still wil work with the other
DC who also hold de DFS functions! So no harm wil be done to the connectivity
of the shares.
If the PDC and a DFS server goes down (low chance) than you will have a more
serious problem on your network than the DFS not being available. :)
In your situation: If the PDC goes offline the clients will look for the
second root targets of the DFS root and/or links! To do that they will ask
the PDC for an alternate path! If there is any! No PDC no "fail-over" for the
client will be available.
This is because the PDC-emulator holds the File Partition Table for the
entire Domain DFS.
Hope this answer satisfies your needs! Else ask!
Greets,
Marco
Post by steve
Hi Marco,
But i have tested if the PDC role is down... the DFS shared on the client is
down too meaning they cant access the DFS mapped drive.
Even the 3rd DC, as u mention DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator,
if this DC goes down, it will be the same, DFS shared on the client access
will be denied, right?
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi,
DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator. So if the PDC goes down DFS
will run but you will not be able to manage it anymore!
So the PDC is the single point of failure!
Best thing to do is implemmenting a third DC that holds the PDC role but
does not hold any DFS function such as root targets etc.
greets,
Marco
Post by steve
hi,
i setup DFS for file sharing redundancy purpose.
In my senario, i installed DFS on 2 domain controller. Firstly, i installed
DFS on DC1 and DC2 as root target. so file sharing on the clients will swing
between these 2 DCs. My thought is DC1 is holding the FSMO roles. IF DC1
fails, my DFS will be totally Offline, instead of failover to DC2. Because AD
is stored in AD, file sharing will have problems when FSMO roles server is
down. IS my understanding correct?
It looks like a single point of failure too. and no matter where my FSMO is
holding at any DC.
pls advice
steve
steve
2006-03-16 07:08:27 UTC
Permalink
Hi Marco,

Sorry to bug u again. i have another thng to ask.

2 domain controller with dfs.
DC1 - DFS with FSMO roles
DC2 - DFS

IF DC1 is dead
says got a user just walk in office and started to login to domain. Will the
dfs shares work on his machine? will he get to refer to the online DC2 DFS?

My point is my trying to know if my FSMO is down, whether PDC is at DFS
server or, when a new user walk-in office and start to login domain. Can he
access to another online DC's dfs ??


thanks
steve
steve
2006-03-19 14:37:30 UTC
Permalink
Hi Marco,

Sorry to bug u again. i have another thing to ask.

2 domain controller with dfs.
DC1 - DFS with FSMO roles
DC2 - DFS

IF DC1 is dead
says got a user just walk in office and started to login to domain. Will the
dfs shares work on his machine? will he get to refer to the online DC2 DFS?
i understand that if the current users were connected to DC1 dfs, they will
not be able to 'swing' to dc2 dfs as the PDC is down.


My point is my trying to know if my FSMO is down, whether PDC is at DFS
server or, when a new user walk-in office and start to login domain. Can he
access to another online DC's dfs ??


thanks
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
BINGO!!!!!!!!
If you have a DC with all the 5 FSMO roles and it goes down! You still wil
have a functioning Domain (Not fully functioning.)
Users can still access resources and logon to another DC.
You wil eventually not be able to create new users, create new shares or set
NTFS permissions etc.
But in an event of a FSMO role holder failing you are always on Alertstatus
1 and you will try to fix the problem as soon as possible anyway!!!
good luck!!!
Marco
Post by steve
Hi Marco,
Thanks for yor explanation.
In my senario
DC1 - DFS server, 5 FSMO roles
DC2 - DFS server
When i shutdown DC1, all my clients could not access to DFS shared. it does
not failed over to the online DC2's DFS.
then i try shutdown DC2, those clients which connected to DC2 DFS at that
time, will failover to DC1 DFS.
Is my result's behaviour correct? I guess so, if my understanding to your
explanation is correct.
So the point is whenever if a DFS is unavailable, the client will query for
PDC for another DFS. if PDC is down.. no failover.
However, if PDC is not the same box as DFS server, If PDC is down, client
will still remain connected because DFS is not affected.
Bingo??
But if i host all FSMO on another DC without DFS, when this DC is down..
Isn't the whole domain will be affect.. example: domain users may not able to
login, users may not able to access domain shares folder. am i rite??
cheers,
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi Steve,
Forgive my English, it's not my native language. I am from Holland!
1 DC - FSMO roles (PDC schema etc)
2 DC's DFS configured!
So if 1 goes down the 2 DC's with DFS wil still be working and clients wil
not notice this, because the are already connected to the DFS root! DFS root
is online even if PDC is down! (Know this from working experience)
1) will the DFS failover to another dfs server?
Nope because PDC is down! But the two "DFS" servers are still
operational and servicing client request.
2) Will my clients get dis-connected from the DFS file share?
Nope because the "DFS" servers are still operational.
In both situations if you have 3 DC's but the "PDC role holder has no DFS
configured on it". You cannot configure or manage the DFS via MMC-snapin, but
the DFS on the 2 working "DFS" servers wil just be fine and service client
requests!
Only if the PDC and one DFS server goes down (not likely to happen) you wil
lose client connectivity, because the File Partition Table isn't available!
Hope it is clearer now!
greetings,
Marco
Post by steve
Hi Marco,
Pardon me, im still confuse about your remarks below.
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Point is that if the PDC goes down de clients still wil work with the other
DC who also hold de DFS functions! So no harm wil be done to the connectivity
of the shares.
#Here u mean that even PDC is down, clients can still connect to dfs shared.
Meaning clients will connect to another dfs server. Right?
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
No PDC no "fail-over" for the client will be available.
#Your sentence is straight-forward. PDC is down, No DFS at all.
So what is what? I want to know when PDC is down,
1) will the DFS failover to another dfs server?
2) Will my clients get dis-connected from the DFS file share?
Thanks for your patience,
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi,
Point is that if the PDC goes down de clients still wil work with the other
DC who also hold de DFS functions! So no harm wil be done to the connectivity
of the shares.
If the PDC and a DFS server goes down (low chance) than you will have a more
serious problem on your network than the DFS not being available. :)
In your situation: If the PDC goes offline the clients will look for the
second root targets of the DFS root and/or links! To do that they will ask
the PDC for an alternate path! If there is any! No PDC no "fail-over" for the
client will be available.
This is because the PDC-emulator holds the File Partition Table for the
entire Domain DFS.
Hope this answer satisfies your needs! Else ask!
Greets,
Marco
Post by steve
Hi Marco,
But i have tested if the PDC role is down... the DFS shared on the client is
down too meaning they cant access the DFS mapped drive.
Even the 3rd DC, as u mention DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator,
if this DC goes down, it will be the same, DFS shared on the client access
will be denied, right?
steve
Post by Marco (MCP, MCSA, MCSA Messaging, MCSE)
Hi,
DFS is totally dependent on de PDC emulator. So if the PDC goes down DFS
will run but you will not be able to manage it anymore!
So the PDC is the single point of failure!
Best thing to do is implemmenting a third DC that holds the PDC role but
does not hold any DFS function such as root targets etc.
greets,
Marco
Post by steve
hi,
i setup DFS for file sharing redundancy purpose.
In my senario, i installed DFS on 2 domain controller. Firstly, i installed
DFS on DC1 and DC2 as root target. so file sharing on the clients will swing
between these 2 DCs. My thought is DC1 is holding the FSMO roles. IF DC1
fails, my DFS will be totally Offline, instead of failover to DC2. Because AD
is stored in AD, file sharing will have problems when FSMO roles server is
down. IS my understanding correct?
It looks like a single point of failure too. and no matter where my FSMO is
holding at any DC.
pls advice
steve
Jill Zoeller [MSFT]
2006-03-15 17:10:20 UTC
Permalink
If you'd like more detail about how DFS works, check out the DFS Technical
Reference at
http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/Library/a9096e88-1634-4da6-b820-537341d349061033.mspx.
You can search for "PDC" to learn more about the role PDC plays in DFS. The
PDC is where all changes to the namespace are made, and then the root
servers poll this server to obtain the latest namespace metadata. If the PDC
is down, you cannot make changes to the namespace. However, the namespace
continues to function.
--
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Want to learn more about Windows Server file and storage technologies? Visit
our team blog at http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/default.aspx.
Post by steve
hi,
i setup DFS for file sharing redundancy purpose.
In my senario, i installed DFS on 2 domain controller. Firstly, i installed
DFS on DC1 and DC2 as root target. so file sharing on the clients will swing
between these 2 DCs. My thought is DC1 is holding the FSMO roles. IF DC1
fails, my DFS will be totally Offline, instead of failover to DC2. Because AD
is stored in AD, file sharing will have problems when FSMO roles server is
down. IS my understanding correct?
It looks like a single point of failure too. and no matter where my FSMO is
holding at any DC.
pls advice
steve
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