Distributed File System Members Have a Backlog of Files in the Staging Directory (269433)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
This article was previously published under Q269433

SYMPTOMS

In a Distributed File System (DFS) replication set, the upstream replication members have a backlog of files in the staging directory.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if the computer account of the downstream partner is deleted before the computer is removed from the replication set. The File Replication service (FRS) maintains the inbound connections for all upstream partners. The upstream partners hold files in the staging directory and wait for the wayward computer object to come back on line if the computer object and the connection object of the removed member computer exist in the Microsoft Active Directory directory service.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, add a new downstream replication member computer to the replication set and perform a full synchronization using new connection objects while the old connections remain in place:
  1. Select one computer from the existing member set to be a designated source server to the new member computer.
  2. Stop the FRS on all replication members except the designated server and the new member computer. To do so:
    1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
    2. Right-click File Replication Service, and then click Stop.
  3. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Distributed File System.
  4. Click the domain root where you want to add a root target.
  5. Click Action, and then click New Root Replica.
  6. Follow the instructions in the New DFS Root wizard.
  7. Click the domain root where you added the target.
  8. Click Action, and then click Replication Policy.
  9. Click to select the shared folder, click Enable, and then click OK.
  10. Restart the FRS on all remaining replication set members. To do so:
    1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
    2. Right-click File Replication Service, and then click Start.
  11. Stop and then restart the FRS service on the designated source server to clean up the staging directory.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the FRS and DFS, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

220938 Description of the FRS Replication Protocol, Notification and Schedule for DFS Content

272279 How to Troubleshoot the File Replication Service and the Distributed File System

For more information, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/proddocs/datacenter/sag_DFconceptUse.asp

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/11/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB269433 kbAudITPRO
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