Using File Server Resource Manager

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

This section tells you how to open File Server Resource Manager and introduces its features.

In this section:

  • Opening File Server Resource Manager

  • Configuring File Server Resource Manager

  • Managing storage resources on a remote computer

  • Using command-line tools for File Server Resource Manager

Opening File Server Resource Manager

File Server Resource Manager is a role service of the File Services role in Windows Server® 2008 R2. It can be installed as part of the File Services role by using Server Manager. After you install the role service, you can use the File Server Resource Manager Microsoft® Management Console (MMC) snap-in.

Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to use File Server Resource Manager.

To open File Server Resource Manager

  • In Server Manager:

    1. Expand Roles, expand File Services, and then expand Share and Storage Management.

    2. Click File Server Resource Manager.

-Or-

  • In Administrative Tools, click File Server Resource Manager.

Performing storage management tasks

The following is a list of tasks that you can perform from the main nodes in the File Server Resource Manager snap-in.

Quota management

  • Create, manage, and obtain information about quotas, which are used to set a space limit on a volume or folder. By defining notification thresholds, you can send e-mail notifications, log an event, run a command or script, or generate reports when users approach or exceed a quota.

  • Create and manage quota templates to simplify quota management.

File screening management

  • Create, manage, and obtain information about file screens, which are used to block selected file types from a volume or folder. When users attempt to save unauthorized files, send an e-mail to the administrators or generate similar notifications.

  • Create file screen exceptions to override certain file screening rules.

  • Create and manage file screen templates to simplify file screening management.

  • Create and manage file groups. When used with file screens and file screen exceptions, file groups determine which files will be blocked and which will be allowed.

Storage reports management

  • Schedule and configure storage reports.

  • Generate storage reports on demand.

File management tasks

  • Schedule and configure file management tasks to automate the application or expiration of custom commands on subsets of files on a server.

Classification management

  • Create and manage classification properties that can be assigned to files.

  • Create and manage classification rules that determine how property values are assigned to files.

  • Configure schedules for automatic classification.

  • Run a classification with all currently configured rules.

Configuring File Server Resource Manager

You can set File Server Resource Manager options in the File Server Resource Manager Options dialog box. These options include default e-mail notification settings, default parameters for storage reports, and other settings that apply to multiple tasks. Some of these settings can be modified when you work with quotas or screen files, or generate storage reports.

To configure File Server Resource Manager options

  1. In the console tree, right-click File Server Resource Manager, and then click Configure Options.

  2. In the File Server Resource Manager Options dialog box, click a tab: E-mail Notifications, Notification Limits, Storage Reports, Report Locations, File Screen Audit, or Automatic Classification.

  3. Enter settings specific for your server environment.

  4. Click OK.

Important

To send e-mail notifications to administrators or to users who exceed quotas or attempt to save unauthorized files, or to send storage reports over e-mail, specify the SMTP server to use and the default e-mail settings on the E-mail Notifications tab.

Important

If you will be generating reports to monitor file screening, select the Record file screening activity in auditing database check box in the File Screen Audit tab. This logs file screening activity in the auditing database, so that it can be used later to generate File Screening Audit reports.

Managing storage resources on a remote computer

To manage storage resources on a remote computer, you can connect to the computer from File Server Resource Manager. While you are connected, File Server Resource Manager displays the objects created on the remote computer, allowing you to manage them in the same way that you can manage resources on your local computer.

To manage remote storage resources with File Server Resource Manager:

  • The remote computer must be running Windows Server 2008 R2 with File Server Resource Manager installed.

  • Enable the Remote File Server Resource Manager Management exception on the remote computer. This exception can be enabled by using Windows® Firewall in Control Panel.

  • You must be logged on to the local computer with an account that is a member of the Administrators group on the remote computer.

Important

To manage storage resources on a remote computer, you must use the stand-alone File Server Resource Manager snap-in instead of the Server Manager snap-in. The stand-alone snap-in is available in Administrative Tools.

To connect to a remote computer from File Server Resource Manager

  1. In Administrative Tools, click File Server Resource Manager.

  2. In the console tree, right-click File Server Resource Manager, and then click Connect to Another Computer.

  3. In the dialog box that opens, click Another computer, and then type the name or browse to the server that you want to connect to.

  4. Click OK to start the connection.

Using command-line tools for File Server Resource Manager

If you prefer to work from the command line, you can use the following tools:

  • Dirquota.exe   Use to create and manage quotas, auto-apply quotas, and quota templates.

  • Filescrn.exe   Use to create and manage file screens, file screen exceptions, file screen templates, and file groups.

  • Storrept.exe   Use to configure report parameters and generate storage reports on demand. You can also create report tasks and then use Schtasks.exe to schedule the tasks.

The tools are added to the system path when you install File Server Resource Manager, and they must be run from an Administrator Command Prompt window.

For more information about these command-line tools, see the following resources:

Each tool has several options for performing actions similar to those that are available in the File Server Resource Manager MMC snap-in, and each tool can perform actions on a local computer or a remote computer. To have a command perform an action on a remote computer instead of the local computer, use the **/remote:**ComputerName parameter. (Additional requirements for managing remote storage resources are listed in Managing storage resources on a remote computer earlier in this guide.)