File Replication Service
Encyclopedia
File Replication Service is a Microsoft
Windows Server
service for distributing shared files and Group Policy Objects. It replaced the (Windows NT) Lan Manager Replication service , and has been partially replaced by Distributed File System
Replication. It is also known as NTFRS after the name of the executable file that runs the service.
in the group. To deal with conflicts (when two copies of the files are edited at the same time on different servers) the service resolves any issues by using the file with latest date and time.
One of the main uses of FRS is for the SYSVOL directory share. The SYSVOL directory share is particularly important in a Microsoft network as it is used to distribute files supporting Group Policy
and scripts to client computers on the network. Since Group Policies and scripts are run each time a user logs on to the system, it is important to have reliability. Having multiple copies of the SYSVOL directory increases the resilience and spreads the workload for this essential service.
The SYSVOL directory can be accessed by using a network share to any server that has a copy of the SYSVOL directory (normally a Domain Controller
) as shown below:
\\server\SYSVOL
Or by accessing it using the domain name:
\\domain.com\SYSVOL
Servers that work together to provide this service are called Replication Partners.
To control file replication:
, which supports replication scheduling and bandwidth throttling. It uses Remote Differential Compression
to detect and replicate only the change to files, rather than replicating entire files, if changed. Windows Vista
also includes a DFS Replication Service which is limited to peer-to-peer DFS Replication service groups. FRS is still used for SYSVOL replication, but optionally, DFS replication may be used instead of FRS replication for SYSVOL shares , and the FRS stopped. On up-level Windows Server 2008 domain controllers, SYSVOL replication is performed using DFS replication, by default although NTFRS replication is also supported. On Windows Server 2008/R2 up-level domain controllers, SYSVOL replication is performed using DFS replication, and NTFRS replication is disabled altogether.
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
Windows Server
Windows Server
Windows Server is a brand name for a group of server operating systems released by Microsoft Corporation. All are part of Microsoft Servers.- Members :This brand includes the following software:* Windows 2000 Server* Windows Server 2003...
service for distributing shared files and Group Policy Objects. It replaced the (Windows NT) Lan Manager Replication service , and has been partially replaced by Distributed File System
Distributed File System (Microsoft)
Distributed File System is a set of client and server services that allow an organization using Microsoft Windows servers to organize many distributed SMB file shares into a distributed file system...
Replication. It is also known as NTFRS after the name of the executable file that runs the service.
Details
When the File Replication Service (FRS) detects a change to a file, such as the creation of a new file or the modification to an existing file, it replicates it to other serversServer (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
in the group. To deal with conflicts (when two copies of the files are edited at the same time on different servers) the service resolves any issues by using the file with latest date and time.
One of the main uses of FRS is for the SYSVOL directory share. The SYSVOL directory share is particularly important in a Microsoft network as it is used to distribute files supporting Group Policy
Group Policy
Group Policy is a feature of the Microsoft Windows NT family of operating systems. Group Policy is a set of rules that control the working environment of user accounts and computer accounts. Group Policy provides the centralized management and configuration of operating systems, applications, and...
and scripts to client computers on the network. Since Group Policies and scripts are run each time a user logs on to the system, it is important to have reliability. Having multiple copies of the SYSVOL directory increases the resilience and spreads the workload for this essential service.
The SYSVOL directory can be accessed by using a network share to any server that has a copy of the SYSVOL directory (normally a Domain Controller
Domain controller
On Windows Server Systems, a domain controller is a server that responds to security authentication requests within the Windows Server domain...
) as shown below:
\\server\SYSVOL
Or by accessing it using the domain name:
\\domain.com\SYSVOL
Servers that work together to provide this service are called Replication Partners.
To control file replication:
- Use the Active Directory Sites and Services from Administrative Tools.
- Select the Sites container to view a list of sites.
- Expand the site that to be viewed. This will provide the list of servers in that site.
- Expand the server to be viewed, right click the NTDS settings, and select Properties.
- Under the Connections tab, the list of servers that are being replicated can be seen.
DFS Replication
In Windows Server 2003 R2 and Windows Server 2008, DFS Replication is available as well as the File Replication Service. DFS Replication is a state-based replication engine for file replication among DFS sharesDistributed File System (Microsoft)
Distributed File System is a set of client and server services that allow an organization using Microsoft Windows servers to organize many distributed SMB file shares into a distributed file system...
, which supports replication scheduling and bandwidth throttling. It uses Remote Differential Compression
Remote Differential Compression
Remote Differential Compression is a client–server synchronization algorithm that allows the contents of two files to be synchronized by communicating only the differences between them...
to detect and replicate only the change to files, rather than replicating entire files, if changed. Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
also includes a DFS Replication Service which is limited to peer-to-peer DFS Replication service groups. FRS is still used for SYSVOL replication, but optionally, DFS replication may be used instead of FRS replication for SYSVOL shares , and the FRS stopped. On up-level Windows Server 2008 domain controllers, SYSVOL replication is performed using DFS replication, by default although NTFRS replication is also supported. On Windows Server 2008/R2 up-level domain controllers, SYSVOL replication is performed using DFS replication, and NTFRS replication is disabled altogether.