* How to solve the problem between Windows Server 2003 DFS and Offline Folders
Editor’s Note: You may have noticed that we changed the name of this newsletter from “Windows Networking” to “Windows Networking Tips.” It’s a small change, but we feel it helps describe the kind of information Dave Kearns passes along every week. Dave will continue to entertain and educate you with his reports from the Windows networking world and will continue to share with you his tips on getting the most from your Windows installation. We hope you’ll continue to enjoy this newsletter. Thanks for reading!
Let’s get something out in the open right up front – hardware doesn’t really interest me. For that matter, operating systems – at least the OS kernel – don’t really interest me. It’s the applications, services, even the tools and utilities that run on the platform provided by the OS kernel and the hardware that fascinate me. Let’s face it, without applications and services the hardware is simply a doorstop, and the OS kernel resembles a disconnected teletype.
Having said that, you can imagine my feelings about file systems and storage. “Storage” makes me think of the original 10M-byte hard drives IBM put in the first PC AT computers that, if memory serves, had a mean time between failures of about 30 minutes. In a memorable PR move, a competitor offered a trade-in of the drives and then took the old drives and sunk them off the coast of Florida to create an artificial reef. “Storage” and “boat anchor” are almost synonymous in my mind. Storage is good only because we need to save the applications and their data somewhere.
Now, a few weeks ago I mentioned the improvements in the Distributed File System (DFS) with Windows Server 2003. Note, though, that it’s the “distributed” part (an application or service) rather than the “file system” part (fancy name for a fish habitat) that interested me. So I overlooked a compelling question that file system aficionados (there are strange people in every group) wanted an answer to: Does the Windows 2003 DFS still have the problems that Windows 2000’s DFS did with a different storage technology – Offline Folders?
Offline Folders are, in essence, shadow copies of remote folders that allow you to work with applications and data (hurray!) whenever you’re disconnected from the remote computer on which they are usually found (typically due to a hardware failure. That’s a joke, son).
The problem appears to be that Offline Folders want to connect to the actual, physical location of the files but DFS is only a virtual location, so they don’t work together. I may not like storage issues, but I do like my readers, so I decided to investigate further.
The folks at Microsoft (and their press representatives at Waggoner-Edstrom) were quite forthcoming. Yes, they said, there are problems between Offline Folders and DFS sometimes. And these problems are the same with Windows Server 2003 as with Windows 2000 Server. But the solution is not to patch the servers but to upgrade your clients. Windows XP (get the Professional version, not the Home version, please!) handles both storage options without a hitch. Anything earlier (Windows 9x, Windows ME and even Windows 2000 Professional) can’t. Problem solved, although many may not like what they have to do to reach the solution.
I’m feeling so exhilarated that I could actually solve a storage issue (without nodding off), then I’ll come back to storage next time. I can hardly wait!
