Configuring Windows NT for Replication (101602)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
This article was previously published under Q101602

SUMMARY

Windows NT implements replication to maintain identical copies of specified files and directories on different computers. Changes made to files on one computer are automatically replicated to other computers configured to receive the changes. Replication requires a Windows NT Advanced Server to serve as the export server. The import server(s) can be other Windows NT Advanced Servers, Windows NT workstations, or OS/2 LAN Manager version 2.x servers. The information below provides detailed instructions to replicate information from an export server to an import server.

MORE INFORMATION

Perform the following fourteen steps to configure the export server:

  1. Run the User Manager from the Administrative Tools group.
  2. Create a new account for replication (for example, REPL). Specify a password, if desired. Remove the check from the "User must change password at next logon" check box.
  3. Choose OK. Then close User Manager.
  4. Run the Control Panel and select Services.
  5. Choose the Directory Replicator service and choose Startup. Change the Startup Type from Manual to Automatic.
  6. In the Log On As control, choose This Account. Then choose Add User. Select the account created in step 2 above and choose Add.
  7. Type the password for the replication account and choose OK. Control Panel responds with a message such as "The account DOMAIN\REPL has been granted the Log On As A Service right and added to the Replicator local group." (If this message does not appear, use the User Manager to grant this right. In User Manager, choose Policies, then choose User Rights, and choose Show Advanced User Rights. Select Log On As a Service. If the replication account does not appear in the Grant To box, click Add, then Show Users, highlight the replication account, click Add, and click OK. The replication account should appear in the Grant To box. Click OK.)
  8. Choose OK to dismiss this message.
  9. Run the Server Manager from the Administrative Tools group.
  10. Choose the export Advanced Server, then choose Computer and Properties.
  11. Choose Replication. In the Replication dialog box, choose Export Directories. The Server Manager displays the default path: C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\REPL\EXPORT.
  12. Choose Add. Specify the name of the domain or computer to act as the import server. (Specifying the name of a domain replicates the files and directories to any workstation or Windows NT Advanced Server in the domain that is configured for import replication.)

    NOTE: If you're setting up replication across a WAN, use specific computer names instead of or in addition to the domain name. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    ARTICLE-ID: 139103
    TITLE : Replication to Import Computers in a WAN Environment

  13. Choose Manage to configure specific directories for replication. By default, the Server Manager exports the Scripts directory that contains any user logon scripts. Choose the Add button to specify any additional subdirectories. (If necessary, create the directories first in the File Manager or at the command prompt.)

    If you choose the Add Lock button, Windows NT does not replicate the selected directory until all <LOCKS> are removed. If you choose Wait until Stabilized, Windows NT does not replicate files until two or more minutes after the last file changed. Otherwise, Windows NT replicates files immediately.

    If you choose Entire Subtree, Windows NT exports the specified subdirectory and all subdirectories it contains. Otherwise, Windows NT exports only the specified subdirectory.

    After you choose all applicable options, choose OK.
  14. Choose OK to exit the Directory Replication dialog box. Windows NT responds with the message "Attempting to Start the Directory Replication service on <computername>." If the service does not start, refer to the Error Log for specific error information.
Perform the following nine steps to configure the import server:

  1. On each import computer, run Control Panel and select Services.
  2. Choose the Directory Replicator service and choose Startup. Change the Startup Type from Manual to Automatic.
  3. In the Log On As control, choose This Account. Then choose Add User. Select the replication account created on the export server and choose Add.

    If the importing computer is in a different domain from the exporting computer, set up a replication account in the import domain with the same name and password as the account used for the export domain.
  4. Type the password for the replication account and choose OK. Control Panel responds with a message such as "The account DOMAIN\REPL has been granted the Log On As A Service right and added to the Replicator local group." (If this message does not appear, use the User Manager to grant this right. In User Manager, choose Policies, then choose User Rights, and choose Show Advanced User Rights. Check Log On As A Service and choose OK.)
  5. Choose OK to dismiss this message.
  6. In Control Panel, choose Server, then choose Replication.
  7. In the Replication dialog box, choose Import directories. The Server Manager displays the default path: C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\REPL\IMPORT.
  8. Choose Add. Specify the name of the domain or computer to act as the export server. (By default, the From List is blank and the computer automatically imports files from the local domain. If you add any entries to the From List, the computer no longer automatically imports files from the local domain; if desired, it must be added to the From List.)

    If you're setting up replication in a WAN environment, use specific computer names instead of or in addition to the domain name. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    ARTICLE-ID: 139103
    TITLE : Replication to Import Computers in a WAN Environment

  9. Choose Manage to display the status screen for the imported directories. Add Lock prevents Windows NT from updating the specified directory.
  10. The Status field can be one of the following:

    • - "OK" indicates that the subdirectory receives regular updates.
    • - "No Master" indicates that the subdirectory is not receiving regular updates.
    • - "No Sync" indicates that the subdirectory has received updates, but that its data is not up to date.
    • - A blank status indicates that the subdirectory has not been replicated.
Additional notes:

  • An Advanced Server can be configured as both an import and an export server.
  • Windows NT can replicate files across domain trust relationships by establishing the same Replication account and password in each domain.
  • When Windows NT replicates files from NTFS to FAT, it replicates only 8.3 filenames.
  • Windows NT can support other import and export paths. However, the default paths, C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\REPL\IMPORT and C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\REPL\EXPORT, have complex permissions that support replication. Maintaining these paths is recommended.
  • When Windows NT displays the message such as "The account DOMAIN\REPL has been granted the Log On As A Service right and added to the Replicator local group.", it indicates that the specified account has been added to the Backup Operators and Domain Users groups by default in addition to the Replicator group.

REFERENCE

System Guide NT Advanced Server
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/6/2003
Keywords:kbhowto kbusage KB101602
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