Distributed File System (DFS)

This section provides guidance for configuring DFS namespaces to work with File Dynamics.

Configuring DFS Folders

File Dynamics requires definite paths in its policies. Because namespaces can provide multiple targets for DFS links and thereby introduce ambiguity, a DFS namespace must be configured with one of the following three options linked below.

Providing Only One Target Per DFS Link

The simplest way to guarantee that File Dynamics has unambiguous DFS paths is to give each DFS link a single target.

In the following graphic, there is just one target path and it is enabled.

One Target Path

Disabling All But One Target Per DFS Link

If a DFS namespace is used for high availability, such as ensuring that users can access a replicated copy of their data, it might be appropriate to create multiple targets in a DFS link and disable all but one. If the enabled link target becomes unavailable, an administrator can disable the downed target and enable a replication target. As long as only one target is enabled for a given DFS link, File Dynamics can successfully provision and manage storage through the DFS path.

In the following graphic, there are multiple target paths, but only one is enabled.

Multiple Target Paths with One Enabled

Enabling Multiple Target Paths

File Dynamics can parse the description field on a DFS folder to determine which of several enabled targets is the primary, unambiguous target. This allows File Dynamics to manage namespaces with multiple enabled targets in a DFS link.

To do this, the description for the DFS link must enclose the complete UNC path of the path File Dynamics should use in double curly braces. For example, {{\\Server\Share\Path}}. This must be identical to the UNC path in the target link; it cannot be a subdirectory.

In the graphic below, there are two target paths enabled.

The Home Properties dialog box is accessed by double-clicking the listing in the DFS Management console.

Two Target Paths Enabled