Distributed File System

How can users access a server’s shares directly in a traditional approach?

Using \\servername\sharename path

T/F: You can access all servers at once as long as it is part of the same domain in a traditional approach?

False, each one must be individually accessed

Why is the traditional approach clunky for larger implementations?

Have to remember multiple paths, manual updates and scripts for name or share changes, no central view of files

T/F: DFS was introduced in Windows NT Server 3.0

False, Windows NT Server 4.0

What are the two DFS core components?

Namespaces and Replication

What does the Namespaces do in DFS?

Gives users a single, unified path to access file shares

T/F: Namespaces make multiple servers look like one?

True

What does Replication do?

Allows two or more servers to sync data automatically

What is the Namespace Server?

Server that hosts the namespace root, acts as entry point for DFS namespace

What is a Target

Network share on server part of the namespace

What is a Referral?

Process of pointing a client to a target

What is a DFS Folder?

A folder inside the namespace that can be virtual or redirects to a target

T/F: DFS allows multiple shares on multiple servers to be physically presented as shares on a single server?

False, logically presented

A namespace appears to the user as a ____ on a server

Share

What is Standalone Namespace?

Namespace is stored locally on namespace server and does not require Active Directory

What is Domain-based Namespace

Namespace info is stored in Active Directory and requires AD

How is DFS Namespace Hierarchy maintained?

By namespace server using DFS Management Tool

What are the folder types in DFS?

Folder with and without targets?

What are folders without targets?

Virtual Folders used to just organize the structure (no data)

What are folders with targets?

Folders that point to real network shares and hold real data

What are the benefits of having multiple targets for a single DFS Folder?

Redundancy, Consistency, Reliability

Where is a standalone namespace located?

located on a server and addressed as the server name

\\servername\namespace

only 1 namespace

How is the Standalone Namespaces Addressed As?

As the servername \\servername\namespace

For Standalone Namespaces, How many namespaces can be created?

Only 1

T/F:standalone namespaces be created on servers that are members of a domain?

True

How is replication supported in terms of the two types of DFS?

Automatic if all servers are in an Active Directory, Manual if an Active Directory is not in place.

How many namespaces can be created in Domain-Based DFS?

Multiple

T/F: In Domain-Based Namespaces, each domain-based namespace is managed together

False, each is managed independently