Setting a default DFS folder target using GPO, in a Win12R2 domain?

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Any idea if you can set a default DFS folder target using GPO, in a Win12R2 domain? My targets are mapped as network drives during login using a GPO.

The targets are all in the same site, but I want to prefer one over the other. I have set the "Override referral ordering" - but this seems not to affect targets within the same site

Thanks in advance

Mike P

Hey Mike,

Unfortunately, the 'Override referral ordering' option uses the site link cost, so it will only be effective if the servers are located in different sites.

Do you want everyone to prefer a certain DFS server within the site, or some users to prefer one, and other users to prefer a different server in the same site?

If you want everyone to prefer the same server, you might be able to use 'global high priority' option. This sets the preference without taking site cost into consideration.

Let me know exactly what you are trying to do (see question above) and I will spin up a couple of servers and see if I can work out a solution with you.

Mike

Many thanks Mike

Ideally I want all users in a site to prefer one target. I will see if I can find a solution. I've googled a lot and it does appear there isn't a solution. But hey what are interns for!

Mike

Sorry.. one quick question. Is there away for me to find out which targets people are connected to. Even if it's just a number count?

Hey Mike,

DFSUtil is a command line utility that will show you which server(s) a client is being referred to. The command dfsutil /pktinfo is a good one, there are several other switches for this command.

So I have it working in my test lab. I have two servers, svr01 and svr02, both hosting the domain-based namespace, and are located in the same site. I have one folder with two folder targets, one on each server. I have a replication group created to sync the content between both servers.

After connecting to the namespace from my client, in an administrative PowerShell console, I ran dfsutil /pktinfo to view my current referrals. They pointed to svr01. Then, in the DFS Management console, with the namespace selected, I right-clicked on svr02 and chose properties. On the advanced tab, I checked 'Override referral ordering', and selected 'First among all targets'. This option does not take cost (site info) into consideration. (I mistakenly thought all these options used site cost) I then went back to the client, closed all connections, and ran dfsutil /pktflush to clear out any current referrals. Then I reconnected to the namespace. I then ran dfsutil /pktinfo again, and the referrals were pointing to svr02.

Let me know if this works for you,

Mike