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rsm27's avatar
rsm27
Copper Contributor
Aug 13, 2023

AD Sysvol Staging / Staging area folders missing after migrated FRS to DFRS

We just migrate our SYSVOL Replication from frs to dfrs.
After the migration, everything looks good (new files created in the scripts folder are syncing to all other DCs, GPO are replicating also fine and dcdiag and repadmin show no erros.


But when i look inside the new folder sysvol_dfrs, folders staging and staging area are missing.
And both of these folder were there before the migration.


Someone know if this is normal behavior after this migration?

 

Thank you

  • rsm27 in rare cases the shared folders / location are changing after FRS migration but if you followed the instructions, this is just a cosmetical issue.
    There not much to do, but checking the visual in DFS replica pair (in some cases this pair is not even visible / accessible in DFS mmc). Next to the repadmin commands to check correct replication. Add all your DCs to Server Manager, go to AD DS pane on the left.
    Select all servers
    scroll down searching services section
    search for NTFRS it should be disabled on all servers and in return
    DFS-R service should be enabled.

    Inviting you to check it again against: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/storage-at-microsoft/streamlined-migration-of-frs-to-dfsr-sysvol/ba-p/425405

    cc NedPyle 

  • Rimvydas-LT's avatar
    Rimvydas-LT
    Brass Contributor
    I have the same question as I'm doing migration right now. From what I can see in MS docs, such thing is by design because docs are saying that in prepared state only two folders are copied into SYSVOL_DFSR folder. I suspect that I need manualy create staging area. But I can't find such thing in the docs.
    • rsm27's avatar
      rsm27
      Copper Contributor

      Hi
      Yes. It's works in this way by Microsoft design.
      You don't need to create stagings folders again, actually, my recommendation is to keep in this way.
      When you add / join a new DC in your domain, you will see that this new DC have all folders include staging and staging area. But even after that, both folders (staging and staging area) will NOT replicate to all DCs. The only way to have all folders again is to decom all "old" DCs and keep just the "new" DC. When I say new, I'm talking about all dcs joined after the migration to dfs.
      So, chill, everything should be ok 🙂

      • Rimvydas-LT's avatar
        Rimvydas-LT
        Brass Contributor
        Yes, you are completely right and this is my solution too and I'm glad that it is quite easy to fix this problem. But lets imagine that I need to only upgrade FRS to DFSR. Whats then? To live without staging, to create it by myself? I'm angry that MS didn't mention anything about that, only that staging folders are not copied to new sysvol. And yes, staging folders are not replicated, only domain folder.
  • How many domain controllers? Anyone in particular or all? How long have you waited? Might also check the System and DFS Replication event logs for clues.     

       

     

       

     

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