Removing DFS replica from computer

[Goober]

Ok i have a Server running win2k3 R2 and its doing nothing but i am replication DFS files to it, now i am going to remove it from its place and relocate it, but with different roles (so no DFS) do i just delete the links in the DFS manager or do i have to do something else? i have never had to remove it before,

[random_n]

I've not yet had a chance to work with the R2 DFS, but I doubt this aspect has changed terribly much (and not at all if you haven't installed the R2 components).

When you delete the link, clients should fail over automatically to the other replication destinations. Be warned that file locks aren't replicated with DFS, though, so applications that have open files on that server when the connection breaks *could* get upset.

But yeah; delete the link targets, and that should be pretty much it. :)

[Goober]

ok so it is just that simple? will links replicate back? do i have to stop the DFS service?

[random_n]

The existing files should be in continuous replication unless you've played with the settings or have the servers that replicate between one another in alternate Active Directory sites. In any case, you should have multiple targets on your links (necessary for replication), so removing the targets pointing to the server you're decomissioning shouldn't affect the availability of the actual DFS structure (so long as you don't have a replication backlog, it should be damn near invisible).

Deleting links will actually play with the structure of the DFS, and I expect you don't want to do that. In the classic DFS console, links are on the left, while targets are on the right. Every link needs one or more targets, and targets can be replicated between one another, with referral enabled or disabled on each. If you really want to set it down gently, you can turn off referral to that target first, wait a day for everybody to close their open files, allow replication to completely clear, and then remove the target.

As for disabling the DFS service; that's a service required by Active Directory to maintain the SYSVOL share across the domain controllers, so don't disable if your server is also a DC (let dcpromo take care of things if you're removing Active Directory as well). You can just remove the shared folders after the targets are gone from the DFS console, let the domain replicate the changes (or force it through Sites and Services), and pack it in. :)

[Goober]

Ah ok no worries

Thanks Random_n for that, I really apperciate it.

I will let you know how i went.

[Guest]

Also, give time for AD to update after you remove the folder targets and turn off the server.