A share present on each domain controller containing logon scripts and Group Policy templates, kept in step by DFS Replication.
Also called Domain System Volume.
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In the Ultra Transcenders books
Each book explains SYSVOL in context, with comparison tables and the common traps.
Terms in this definition
- Share
In OpenSharing, the container you fill with tables, views, volumes, models and notebooks for recipients. You need
CREATE SHAREon the metastore to make one; add a schema and all its assets, including later ones, go with history. - DC
A server running AD DS. Placing these servers in Azure as well as on-premises keeps synchronisation and user sign-in working if one location fails.
- Exclusions
Scopes taken out of a policy assignment; they can only narrow its coverage, never widen it.
- DFS Replication
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.
Related terms
- Central store
Every Group Policy editor in a domain sees identical templates when ADMX and ADML files sit in this SYSVOL folder, named PolicyDefinitions.
- 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.
- 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File Replication Service, the older SYSVOL replication mechanism superseded by DFSR.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.
- 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.