File Replication Service

File Replication Service (FRS) is a Microsoft Windows Server service for distributing shared files and Group Policy Objects. It replaced the (Windows NT) Lan Manager Replication service,[1] and has been partially replaced by Distributed File System Replication. It is also known as NTFRS after the name of the executable file that runs the service.

One of the main uses of FRS is for the SYSVOL directory share. The SYSVOL directory share is particularly important in a Microsoft network as it is used to distribute files supporting Group Policy and scripts to client computers on the network. Since Group Policies and scripts are run each time a user logs on to the system, it is important to have reliability. Having multiple copies of the SYSVOL directory increases the resilience and spreads the workload for this essential service.

The SYSVOL directory can be accessed by using a network share to any server that has a copy of the SYSVOL directory (normally a Domain Controller) as shown below:

  \\server\SYSVOL

Or by accessing it using the domain name:

  \\domain.com\SYSVOL

Servers that work together to provide this service are called Replication Partners.

To control file replication:

  1. Use the Active Directory Sites and Services from Administrative Tools.
  2. Select the Sites container to view a list of sites.
  3. Expand the site that to be viewed. This will provide the list of servers in that site.
  4. Expand the server to be viewed, right click the NTDS settings, and select Properties.
  5. Under the Connections tab, the list of servers that are being replicated can be seen.

DFS Replication

In Windows Server 2003 R2 and Windows Server 2008, DFS Replication[2] is available as well as the File Replication Service. DFS Replication is a state-based replication engine for file replication among DFS shares, which supports replication scheduling and bandwidth throttling. It uses Remote Differential Compression to detect and replicate only the change to files, rather than replicating entire files, if changed. Windows Vista also includes a DFS Replication Service which is limited to peer-to-peer DFS Replication service groups.[3] FRS is still used for SYSVOL replication, but optionally, DFS replication may be used instead of FRS replication for SYSVOL shares,[4] and the FRS stopped. On up-level Windows Server 2008 domain controllers, SYSVOL replication is performed using DFS replication, by default[5] although NTFRS replication is also supported. On Windows Server 2008/R2 up-level domain controllers, SYSVOL replication is performed using DFS replication, and NTFRS replication is disabled altogether.[6]

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References
  1. Microsoft, Transitioning to File Replication Service, https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc960677.aspx
  2. "FRS and Sysvol Improvements". What's New in Group Policy in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Microsoft TechNet. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved 2006-08-04.
  3. A Windows Vista-based client computer does not participate in the replication process if you add the client computer to a DFS Replication service group by using the DFS Management snap-in on a Windows Servers 2003 R2-based computer
  4. "SYSVOL Migration Series: Part 1 – Introduction to the SYSVOL migration process". technet.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  5. Verifying File Replication during the Windows Server 2008 DFSR SYSVOL Migration – Down and Dirty Style, Ask the Directory Services Team, Microsoft Techet. Accessed 5/4/2011
  6. "Backing Up and Restoring an FRS-Replicated SYSVOL Folder". Microsoft Corporation. (sec.) Determining Whether a Domain Controller's SYSVOL Folder is Replicated by DFSR or FRS. Windows Server 2008 + DFL 2008 + SYSVOL migration completed DFSR [...] Windows Server 2008 + domain functional level below Windows Server 2008 FRS [...] Windows Server 2003 FRS
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