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DFS Link Overlaps existing replicated folder

Answered DFS Link Overlaps existing replicated folder

  • Thursday, September 11, 2008 8:06 PM
     
     
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    We had a DFS root on our server that replicated to 7 of our remote offices. Our server went down and had to be rebuilt.

    I have been able to recreate the root, and all of the targets, however, when I try to configure the replication, there is a RED X over the folder with a message that states "This target is not eligible because the folder overlaps an existing replicated folder on that comptuer."

    The only folder that doesn't have the red X is the local folder that I am looking to replicate out to the other offices.

    What do I need to do to get rid of that message and allow replication to the other folders?

    Thanks.
    Tony.
     

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  • Tuesday, September 16, 2008 9:58 AM
     
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    Hi customer,

     

    According to the research, we will encounter this error message when we try to recreate the DFS structure because of the reason that the old information of the decommissioned DFS root server still exist in Active Directory database. To get rid of that message, we'd better first manually remove the old information from Active Directory and then create the new DFS structure in DFS management console.

     

    Troubleshooting Steps:

     

    1. Use the DFS utility (Dfsutil.exe) that is included in the Windows Server 2003 Support Tools to remove the root server from the DFS namespace.

     

    Dfsutil /UnmapFtRoot /Root:DFS root /Server:RootTargetServer /Share:DFSsharename

     

    DFSroot is in the form of: \\DomainOrServer\RootName

     

    Please note: To install the DFS utility that is included in the Windows Server 2003 Support Tools, right-click Suptools.msi in the Support\Tools folder on the Windows Server 2003 CD-ROM, and then click Install.

     

    2. On the decommissioned root target, remove DFS information from the registry by using the following Dfsutil.exe command:

     

    Dfsutil /Clean /Server:RootTargetServer /Share:DFS share name

     

    Please note: RootTargetServer refers to the root server that is to be decommissioned.

     

    3. Remove the entry of the root target from Active Directory Users and Computers

     

    Launch "Active Directory Users and Computers" -> Click "View" -> Select "Advanced Features" -> in the left tree, expand and locate "System" container -> Dfs-configuration -> Delete the old root target under the Dfs-configuration

     

    4. On the decommissioned root server, run the following command in sequence.

     

    net stop dfs

     

    net start dfs

     

    5. Please wait for some time and then recreate the DFS structure via DFS management console and check if the issue can be resolved.

     

    Hope it helps.

    David Shen - MSFT
    • Marked As Answer by David Shen Friday, September 19, 2008 11:14 AM
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  • Wednesday, September 17, 2008 6:40 PM
     
     
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    Thanks for the response David.

    I decommissioned the server, and "/cleaned" all the DFS information from the registry.

    When I went into AD -> System Container, I found the DFS configuration to be empty. I did notice, however, that there was another folder in System -> File REplication Service -> DFS Volumes -> <old DFSroot> -> <old dfsshare> that listed all of my remote servers by GUID, along with the server name.

    Is the error coming from the information that is stored here? Is it safe to remove these entries at the <old DFSroot> folder that exists?

    Or will these folders remove themselves given some time?

    Thanks.
     
  • Thursday, September 18, 2008 12:02 PM
     
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    Hi,

     

    Yes. It’s fine to remove these entries. However, it’s better for us to backup the Active Directory database before we remove it.

     

    To backup Windows Server 2003 based domain, you may refer to:

     

    How To Use the Backup Program to Back Up and Restore the System State in Windows 2000

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/240363

    (this article should be applied to Windows Server 2003)

     

    To backup Windows Server 2008 based domain, you may refer to:

     

    Perform a System State Backup of a Domain Controller by Using the Command Line (Wbadmin)

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772482.aspx

     

    Meanwhile, after you manually delete the old entries, please reboot the server and then check if you can recreate the DFS structure via DFS management console again.

     

    Hope it helps.

    David Shen - MSFT
    • Marked As Answer by David Shen Friday, September 19, 2008 11:14 AM
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  • Tuesday, September 23, 2008 5:03 AM
     
     
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    worked well. Was able to add the targets and set up replication after deleting the DFS volumes from Active Directory.

    Thanks again for your help David.