A Windows Server role service that keeps folders in step across servers, SYSVOL among them, sending only changed blocks thanks to remote differential compression. It took over from FRS.
Also called DFSR.
Read more: Microsoft Learn
In the Ultra Transcenders books
Each book explains DFS Replication in context, with comparison tables and the common traps.
Terms in this definition
- Role
How an actor normally or expectedly behaves, or the part a person takes in a process. A single actor may hold more than one role.
- SYSVOL
A share present on each domain controller containing logon scripts and Group Policy templates, kept in step by DFS Replication.
- RDC
Remote Differential Compression. For files of at least 64 KB, DFS Replication uses it so only changed blocks cross the network.
- OVER
Gives a T-SQL window function its window: PARTITION BY, ORDER BY and, if wanted, a ROWS or RANGE frame. Rankings and running totals can then be worked out while every row is kept.
- FRS
File Replication Service, the older SYSVOL replication mechanism superseded by DFSR. DCs on Windows Server 2019 or newer require SYSVOL to be replicated with DFSR.
Related terms
- ConflictAndDeleted quota
Caps how much space DFS Replication may use for deleted files and for files that lose a conflict (the newest write prevails), both stored under DfsrPrivate.
- DFS
Short for Distributed File System, the collective label for two role services: DFS Namespaces and DFS Replication.
- dfsrmig
A tool for moving SYSVOL replication off FRS and on to DFS Replication in stages numbered 0 to 3. Once the last stage, Eliminated, is reached, there is no going back.
- Non-authoritative synchronisation
After cloning or a restore, a domain controller can have SYSVOL (or another DFSR folder) reset so it pulls a fresh copy from a partner. The authoritative alternative instead nominates one member as the source everyone else takes.
- Primary member
The DFS Replication member treated as authoritative only while initial replication runs, so its files win any conflict with copies already present on other members.
- Read-only replicated folder
A DFS Replication folder on a member where local edits aren't allowed, so data flows to that member in one direction only.
- Replicated folder
Kept identical by DFS Replication on every group member, with filters for files and subfolders set per folder.
- Replication group
DFS Replication members sharing bandwidth settings, a schedule and a topology, replicating one or more folders between them.