Windows 2000 Administration in a Nutshell

Name

Distributed File System — H,PP

Synopsis

Creates and administers a Dfs tree.

Description

Distributed File System integrates shared folders on local and remote servers into a single, consolidated hierarchy called a Dfs tree. This benefits both administrators, who can centrally manage shared folders across an enterprise, and users, who can find and access shared folders more easily.

Windows NT 4.0 administrators will recall that limited Dfs functionality was supplied by Service Pack 3 for Windows NT 4.0 Server.

Using Distributed File System

You can access Distributed File System by:

• Start → Programs → Administrative Tools → Distributed File System

• Installing the Distributed File System snap-in into a new or existing console

The console tree for this tool displays the various Dfs links in the Dfs tree. A typical console tree looks like this:

Distributed File System Dfs root Dfs link Dfs link . . . 

Select a Dfs link to display its associated replicas (network shared folders) in the Details Pane. Additional Dfs roots can be configured, but only one per Windows 2000 server. For background information on Dfs, see Dfs .

Action Menu

Under the Action menu you can select the following:

Distributed File System node

Select this to add a new Dfs root, or select an existing one in your enterprise.

Dfs root node

Select this to create an new Dfs link, add a replica to the root, check the status of the root, and configure its security settings.

Dfs link

Select this to add a new replica to the link, check the ...