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Storage at Microsoft
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What the heck is the File Server "role" in Windows Server???

NedPyle's avatar
NedPyle
Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
Jul 27, 2021
Heya folks, Ned here again. Today I clear up an old idiosyncrasy of Windows Server: if the SMB Server service is always installed, why is there a role called "File Server" and what does enabling it d...
Updated Nov 07, 2022
Version 2.0
Karl-WE's avatar
Karl-WE
MVP
Jan 06, 2024

Heya Ned, your story is right for Windows OS / Windows Server with GUI but isn't it a bit different with Windows Server core installations?

Same domain controllers (AD DS) will open these ports, also installing printing services (required SMB and share print$ to access drivers from remote clients) but also Failover Clustering will open these and require the service.