How to setup File Replication Service and Distributed File System in Windows 2003

The procedure to setup File Replication Service in Windows 2003 cover the most common method, which is to use Distributed File System (DFS) and File Replication Service (FRS). The Internet folders will need to be setup before performing these procedures. A member of the Domain Administrators group performed the following procedures on a domain controller system running Internet Information Services (IIS) 5.0.

Enable DFS in Windows 2003 for the Internet Data Folder

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Distributed File System to start the DFS snap-in.
2. Right-click Distributed File System, point to New, and then click New Dfs root.
3. On the Welcome to the New Dfs Root Wizard screen, click Next.
4. On the Select the Dfs Root Type screen, click to select Create a domain Dfs root, and then click Next.
5. On the Select the Host Domain for the Dfs Root screen, type the name of your domain in the Domain name box, click to select the trusting domains in the Trusting Domains box, and then click Next.
6. On the Specify the Host Server for the Dfs Root screen, type the host server name in the Server name box, and then click Next.
7. On the Specify the Dfs Root Share screen, click to select Create a new share, type the share path in the Path to share box, type the descriptive name for the share in the Share name box, and then click Next.
8. On the Name the Dfs Root screen, type a unique name for the new root in the Dfs root name box, type an appropriate comment about the new root in the Comment box, and then click Next.
9. Review the creation information, and then click Finish.


Enable FRS replication

1. Open the DFS snap-in: Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Distributed File System.
2. Right-click the DFS link for the replica set, and then click Replication Policy.
3. In the Replication Policy dialog box, click Enable, and then click OK.

According to wikipedia, File Replication Service is a Microsoft Windows Server service for distributing folders stored in the SYSVOL shared folder on domain controllers and Distributed File System (DFS) shared folders. This service is part of Microsoft's Active Directory. When the File Replication Service (FRS) detects a change to a file, such as the creation of a new file or the modification to an existing file, it replicates it to other servers in the group.