A. Using the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) DFS Management snap-in, you can create new replica sets outside the DFS namespace. Typically, when you manage a DFS name space and add multiple targets for a folder, it’s easy to then configure the multiple targets for replication. However, you can also configure replication outside a DFS namespace.
1. Start the MMC DFS Management snap-in by selecting Start, Administrative Tools, DFS Management.
2. Select the Replication node, and click the New Replication Group link in the Actions pane.
3. Select the type of replication. You can use a “Multipurpose replication group” in cases in which data is changed at all members of the replica set, users share information, and so on. Or you can choose the "Replication group for data collection," typically used only for branch server content replication to a hub server for centralized backup.
4. Enter a name, description, and domain for the replica group, and click Next.
5. The next screen prompts for the members of the replica set. As you add each member, the system performs a check for its suitability as a member of the set. For example, does it have DFSR support?
6. Select the type of replication topology. If more than three servers are part of the replica set, you can choose a “hub-and-spoke topology.” Otherwise, the options are “full mesh,” in which every node replicates to every other node (which really scales up to only 10 nodes), or no replication at all, in which case you need to create a custom topology.
7. Select the amount of bandwidth to use for replication. By default, you have the full bandwidth available for use. You can also specify a schedule that allows an amount of bandwidth to be specified for each hour of each day of the week. Using this feature, you can limit bandwidth during the day and catch up at night (making sure that users are aware that there might be differences in replica sets at locations).
8. Select the authoritative server from the list of servers in the replica set. During the initial replication, the selected primary server will govern the content of the replicas. If data exists on a non-primary server in the replication folder that isn't in the primary servers replication folder, it will be deleted.
9. Select the folder to replicate on the primary server. You can select multiple folders, if necessary.
10. On the next screen, select the folder to use for the other members of the replica set by selecting the member from the dialog box and editing the folder property.
11. A summary of the actions and configuration appears. Click Create to being the DFSR set creation.
12. Once complete, click Close. A notification message will appear, informing you that replication won’t begin until all members have contacted AD DCs for the configuration information. This process requires AD replication to have occurred and the replica to poll the DC.
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