Add a DFS root target

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To add a DFS root target

  1. Open Distributed File System.

  2. Select the domain root for which you want to add a root target.

  3. On the Action menu, click New Root Target.

  4. Follow the instructions that appear in the New Root wizard.

Notes

  • In order to make changes to an existing DFS namespace, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the server hosting the namespace. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. You must be a member of the Administrators group on a server to create a root target on that server. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.

  • To open DFS, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Distributed File System.

  • To remove a root target, select the root target, open the Action menu, and click Remove Target.

  • You can only add root targets to domain DFS roots.

  • If the folder that you specify to correspond to the root target does not exist or has not been shared, you will be prompted to create a new shared file. You can then type the name of a new folder, or type the name of an existing folder that has not yet been shared. DFS will create the folder (if necessary), then share the folder. Be aware that although the name of the folder itself does not have to be the same as the root, the folder will automatically be shared with the same name as the root.

  • If you add a shared folder on a Windows 2000 computer as a root target, it may not display in the list of root targets immediately.

  • If your DFS namespace includes roots and root targets which exist on both computers running one of the Windows Server 2003 family of products and computers running Windows 2000, you must administer those roots from a computer running a product in the Windows Server 2003 family, or from a computer running the Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack. You can not administer the DFS namespace from a computer running Windows 2000.

  • When working with shared folders, use NTFS and file sharing permissions to secure the folder and any subfolders so that only authorized users can access them.

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.

See Also

Concepts

Create a DFS root
Delete a DFS root, root target, link, or target
Securing shared resources
Set permissions on a shared resource
Set, view, change, or remove permissions on files and folders