Installing DFS

To install DFS, an administrator of a file server on the network needs to install the File System role and select the necessary DFS-related role services. Also, when the DFS role services are selected, the necessary DFS tools will be installed as part of the installation. To install the DFS services, please refer to the steps detailed in the “Adding the File Services Role” section earlier in this chapter, but on the Role Services page, select the DFS Namespaces, DFS Replication, and if any Windows 2000 or 2003 pre R2 systems will be part of the DFS topology, also select the Windows Server 2003 File Services. When installing the DFS services, a new namespace can be created. Skip namespace creation during installation to ensure a successful installation and create the namespace later to ensure proper configuration.

Creating the DFS Namespace and Root

When creating a DFS namespace, the administrator requires local Administrator group access on the server hosting the namespace, and if a domain namespace is selected, domain administrator rights are also required.