5,000 folder limit for DFS namespaces

Discussion:

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C***@googlemail.com

2007-09-04 14:29:35 UTC

Hi,

even after reading all the technet and other documentation on DFS
namespaces I'm still not sure whether the 5,000 folder limit applies
PER NAMESPACE or for all domain-based namespaces in a domain TOGETHER.

We expect up to 50 domain based namespaces and want to know if we can
use 50 times 5,000 folders or just 5,000 folders in all 50 namespaces
together.

Thanks for any information on this

Chris

Rudolf Meier

2007-09-04 16:14:36 UTC

Permalink

Hi Chris

Post by C***@googlemail.com
even after reading all the technet and other documentation on DFS
namespaces I'm still not sure whether the 5,000 folder limit applies
PER NAMESPACE or for all domain-based namespaces in a domain TOGETHER.
We expect up to 50 domain based namespaces and want to know if we can
use 50 times 5,000 folders or just 5,000 folders in all 50 namespaces
together.
Thanks for any information on this

Well, Windows 2000 supported 1000 folders per ROOT and unlimited roots per
domain. So I'm pretty shure that it's 5000 per dfs-root and not per domain.
But if you really need more, wait for Windows Server 2008. It will support
more than 5000 folders. As far as I know they started performance tests to
determine how many folders will be supported at the end.

But... do you really need more than 5000 folders? I mean... if you use DFSR,
you can have a lot of folders and files in one replicated folder. So if you
pack some folders together into a new one (as subfolders) you could reduce
the folders in your namespace. ... but, it's just an idea :-) maybe it's not
an option for you.

Rudolf

C***@googlemail.com

2007-09-06 06:53:39 UTC

Permalink

Post by Rudolf Meier
Hi Chris

Well, Windows 2000 supported 1000 folders per ROOT and unlimited roots per
domain. So I'm pretty shure that it's 5000 per dfs-root and not per domain.
But if you really need more, wait for Windows Server 2008. It will support
more than 5000 folders. As far as I know they started performance tests to
determine how many folders will be supported at the end.
But... do you really need more than 5000 folders? I mean... if you use DFSR,
you can have a lot of folders and files in one replicated folder. So if you
pack some folders together into a new one (as subfolders) you could reduce
the folders in your namespace. ... but, it's just an idea :-) maybe it's not
an option for you.
Rudolf

It was a question from a large customer (very large...) - they want a
kind of geographical namespace and top folder hierarchy and may end up
in a scenario with a lot of folders in each namespace...

Rudolf Meier

2007-09-06 19:48:47 UTC

Permalink

Post by C***@googlemail.com

Post by Rudolf Meier

Well, Windows 2000 supported 1000 folders per ROOT and unlimited roots per
domain. So I'm pretty shure that it's 5000 per dfs-root and not per domain.
But if you really need more, wait for Windows Server 2008. It will support
more than 5000 folders. As far as I know they started performance tests to
determine how many folders will be supported at the end.
But... do you really need more than 5000 folders? I mean... if you use DFSR,
you can have a lot of folders and files in one replicated folder. So if you
pack some folders together into a new one (as subfolders) you could reduce
the folders in your namespace. ... but, it's just an idea :-) maybe it's not
an option for you.
Rudolf

It was a question from a large customer (very large...) - they want a
kind of geographical namespace and top folder hierarchy and may end up
in a scenario with a lot of folders in each namespace...

Ok, so then I would recommend to wait for Server 2008.

Rudolf

Louis

2007-09-05 15:06:49 UTC

Permalink

Post by C***@googlemail.com
Hi,
even after reading all the technet and other documentation on DFS
namespaces I'm still not sure whether the 5,000 folder limit applies
PER NAMESPACE or for all domain-based namespaces in a domain TOGETHER.
We expect up to 50 domain based namespaces and want to know if we can
use 50 times 5,000 folders or just 5,000 folders in all 50 namespaces
together.
Thanks for any information on this
Chris

Hi Chris,

The rule applies to each namespace. This is due to the blob size of
the object in AD. Each DFS root is a blob in AD. Due to AD replication
constraints, each blob is limited (recommended) to 5mb or around 5000
links (folders) per DFS root.

Louis

C***@googlemail.com

2007-09-06 06:51:59 UTC

Permalink

Post by Louis

Hi Chris,
The rule applies to each namespace. This is due to the blob size of
the object in AD. Each DFS root is a blob in AD. Due to AD replication
constraints, each blob is limited (recommended) to 5mb or around 5000
links (folders) per DFS root.
Louis

Hi Louis,

I read about the blob and its size. Where are they stored in AD?
Underneath CN=DFS-Configuration,CN=System,DC=.... ?

Thanks Chris

Louis

2007-09-07 14:34:10 UTC

Permalink

Post by C***@googlemail.com

Post by Louis

Hi Chris,
The rule applies to each namespace. This is due to the blob size of
the object in AD. Each DFS root is a blob in AD. Due to AD replication
constraints, each blob is limited (recommended) to 5mb or around 5000
links (folders) per DFS root.
Louis

Hi Louis,
I read about the blob and its size. Where are they stored in AD?
Underneath CN=DFS-Configuration,CN=System,DC=.... ?
Thanks Chris- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

DFS-Configuration

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