Proper way to disable DFS-Replication between 2 servers for good

Quantum2021 66

What is proper way to disable DFS-Replication between 2 servers due to having to decommission one of the members for good and the server being decommissioned will not be replaced?

Thanks in advance

Current DFS-R setup:

Using DFS-Replication and not using DFS-Namespace

Server A and Server B in the replication group and are in the same physical location.

They are also DCs, just an FYI.

File server A was the primary member

Topology is Full Mesh

Multipurpose Replication group

The data size is about 1 TB.

After disabling the DFS-Replication, Server B will continue to serve as the file server so the data has to be intact.

Quantum2021 66 Reputation points

2023-09-22T17:36:42.9666667+00:00

Anyone?
Vaidish 76 Reputation points

2023-09-23T06:13:59.04+00:00
Disabling DFS Replication between two servers should be done carefully to avoid any data loss or disruption. Make sure you have appropriate backups of your data before proceeding.
Backup Data: Before making any changes, ensure that you have a backup of the data on both servers. This is crucial in case anything goes wrong during the process.

Disable Replication:

a. On the Primary Server: If one of the servers is the primary server (where data changes are made), you should stop the DFS Replication service on this server first.

Open an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell window.

Run the following command to stop the DFS Replication service:
net stop DFSR b. On the Secondary Server: If the other server is the secondary server (where data is replicated to), you should disable the replication connections.
- Open the DFS Management Console on the secondary server. - Expand the "Replication" node. - Select the "Connections" folder. - Right-click on each connection and select "Disable."

Pause Replication (Optional): To ensure that no changes occur during the disabling process, you can pause replication temporarily. This is especially useful if you're planning to reconfigure DFS Replication after disabling it.

In the DFS Management Console on the primary server, select the "Replication" node.

Right-click on the replication group and select "Edit Replication Group Schedule."

Set the schedule to "Never" for all connections, which effectively pauses replication.

Monitor Replication Status: Keep an eye on the replication status to ensure that replication has indeed stopped. You can do this by checking the DFS Management Console for any remaining active connections. Verify Data Consistency: Confirm that data is consistent between the two servers. You can do this by comparing file and folder structures, permissions, and file contents. Reconfigure or Delete Replication (Optional): If you plan to reconfigure replication between these servers in the future, you can do so after ensuring that everything is working as expected. If you don't intend to use DFS Replication anymore, you can also delete the replication group and related configurations. Resume Normal Operations: Once you're confident that replication is fully disabled and data is consistent, you can resume normal operations on both servers. Remember that disabling DFS Replication should be done with caution, and it's essential to have a clear understanding of how DFS works in your environment. Always make sure you have proper backups and a well-thought-out plan before proceeding.

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Proper way to disable DFS-Replication between 2 servers for good

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