Distributed File System (Microsoft)
The Distributed File System ( DFS , English for Distributed File System ) from Microsoft makes it possible to compile directories distributed in the computer network into directory structures. The directories can be located on different data stores and still appear to users as a closed structure.
The concept of the Distributed File System did not come from Microsoft. There are different implementations from different manufacturers.
DFS could be installed for the first time under Windows NT 4.0 Server . In partially restricted variants, it is part of the following Windows servers for companies.
The topology of the DFS comprises a directory as the DFS root and links to the target directories. The target directories can replicas are created, with which the files are automatically synchronized. But then it is not possible to control whether users access the actual target directory or a possibly not yet up-to-date replica.
Two variants of a DFS trunk can optionally be created:
- Independent DFS trunk
- Cannot have root-level DFS shared folders
- Can only have a single level of DFS links
- Domain-based DFS root
- Can have DFS shared folders at the root level
- Can have multiple levels of DFS links
- Must be set up on a member server of the domain
- Automatically in Active Directory published