DFS -Some targets not showing previous versions

Fred Beck 1 Reputation point
2023-05-05T20:01:14.37+00:00

Files server and domain controllers: 2019

Windows 10, server 2016 and 2019 end points

Many File Shares are on the same volume of a server. Shadow copies is enabled. I can see previous versions on the server inside all shares.

Using DFS to expose shares to users. Conditions below are true for all users, no matter what the user's rights are.

Some DFS shares display previous versions fine, others show no previous versions available.

-Directly on server all the same share destinations, previous versions show up fine.

I notice that when I go to properties of the DFS folder on end point, look at the DFS tab:

  • All shares that do display Previous versions show the referral path is \FileServer.domain\share
  • All Failing shares show \domain\share

When I go to the DFS console, ALL folder targets are defined with path \FileServer.domain\share

On failing shares, I have repointed to \FileServer.domain\share again, but the result is no different on the end points.

I do not know for sure this is the root cause... I just know all failing/succeeding DFS objects are like this

I have compared every property I can think of from the physical share up and these are the only clear differences, I can't figure out where those properties are coming from -even looking in the registry, DFS OU on AD.

There may be dfsutil commands I can run to get better information, but I don't know what.

Screenshot: no previous versions

User's image

Properties in DFS, no previous versions -but directly on the server they are there.

User's image

The working share shows \filesever.domain\share in the first and second screenshots. I see previous versions at the end point and the server -Both shares come from the same server and drive.

Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
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Windows 10
Windows 10
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Windows Server
Windows Server
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2 answers

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  1. Limitless Technology 43,931 Reputation points
    2023-05-09T11:03:07.1833333+00:00

    Hello there,

    Trying restarting the dfs namespace and dfs replication services on the domain controllers that host the root. What are dfs patches that you recently applied?

    Look on the dfs logs on the servers and see if any error or warning message, post the ids.

    Hope this resolves your Query !!

    --If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept it as an answer--

  2. Fred Beck 1 Reputation point
    2023-05-09T17:12:03.24+00:00

    well, I don't like it but I have a solution.

    I was testing in different namespaces creating folders pointed to shares that were failing.

    They all worked great! At one point I created a folder under the name space that was failing... it kept failing, I deleted the test folder.....

    And now all the other folders in that bad namespace work again!?!?

    Something got reset. I don't know what. But the folder targets suddenly show the correct path again and previous versions are back.

    I don't like the answer but, there it is. I hope it helps someone else one day

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