DFS Replication purpose and how to restore what was saved?

techcoor 1,251 Reputation points
2021-04-17T03:42:51.837+00:00

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/dfs-replication/dfsr-overview says "DFS Replication ... enables you to efficiently replicate folders (including those referred to by a DFS namespace path) across multiple servers and sites" What kind of folders is DFS designed to replicate? Is DFS meant to be a backup? Once replication occurs can folders be restored and if so how is the restoring done?

Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
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  1. Fan Fan 15,291 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2021-04-19T01:31:45.033+00:00

    Hi,
    For your questions:

    1. What kind of folders is DFS designed to replicate?
      DFS Replication enables you to replicate folders between multiple servers.
      If you want to keep folders synchronized between servers, you can create a replication group for them. Then the content between the folders will keep sync.
    2. Is DFS meant to be a backup?
      DFS Replication is not a replacement for backups. If a file gets deleted, changed, or corrupted on one target server, it will most likely be deleted, changed, or corrupted on the other target servers. Therefore, you still need to use backups to provide data protection and recovery.
    3. No. As said, that's why a backup is needed.
      More information for your reference:
      DFS Replication: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Best Regards,
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  1. techcoor 1,251 Reputation points
    2021-04-21T01:56:05.98+00:00

    Seems that backup and DFS are creating the copy of the folders\files in another location. What seems to be different is that with a normal backup program one can create folders\files in another location and can restore those folders\files. DFS has no ability to restore.

    If the primary server one data folders\files are moved to a second server using DFS and both servers are running the same Windows Server software. And If server one fails. Can I not bring up the second server and have data backup and recovery? Does not a file deleted, changed or corrupted on server one get passed to second server regarding of whether backup or DFS is used?

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  2. Fan Fan 15,291 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2021-04-22T02:20:52.157+00:00

    Hi,

    In a replication group, if server one fails, can I not bring up the second server and have data backup and recovery?
    The data in the second server can still be used.
    Does not a file deleted, changed, or corrupted on server one gets passed to second server regarding of whether backup or DFS is used?
    Yes, if a file gets deleted, changed, or corrupted on one target server, it will be deleted, changed, or corrupted on the other target servers.
    For example, if you deleted a file on one of the servers, the file will be deleted on another server too. But then you want to restore it, here the backup will be used.
    Best Regards,

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