Create a DFS namespace

Applies to: Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008

To create a new namespace, you can use Server Manager to create the namespace when you install the DFS Namespaces role service. You can also use the New-DfsnRoot cmdlet from a Windows PowerShell session.

The DFSN Windows PowerShell module was introduced in Windows Server 2012.

Alternatively, you can use the following procedure to create a namespace after installing the role service.

To create a namespace

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DFS Management.

2. In the console tree, right-click the Namespaces node, and then click New Namespace.

3. Follow the instructions in the New Namespace Wizard.

   To create a stand-alone namespace on a failover cluster, specify the name of a clustered file server instance on the Namespace Server page of the New Namespace Wizard .

Important

Do not attempt to create a domain-based namespace using the Windows Server 2008 mode unless the forest functional level is Windows Server 2003 or higher. Doing so can result in a namespace for which you cannot delete DFS folders, yielding the following error message: "The folder cannot be deleted. Cannot complete this function".

Additional References

• Deploying DFS Namespaces
• Choose a Namespace Type
• Add Namespace Servers to a Domain-based DFS Namespace
• Delegate Management Permissions for DFS Namespaces.