Connstat Overview

  • Article

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

Connstat.cmd: FRS Connection Status Report

This command-line tool processes the output generated when the NtfrsUtl tool is run with the sets parameter. Using the NtfrsUtl sets output as its data source, ConnStat creates a report that summarizes the status of the FRS replication connections to and from a specified computer.

Corresponding UI

There is no corresponding user interface for this tool.

Concepts

The File Replication Service (FRS), first introduced in Windows 2000, is an essential element of the Microsoft Active Directory technologies. The Active Directory service uses FRS for SYSVOL replication. FRS can also be used with the Microsoft Distributed File System (DFS) technologies for automatic replication of content between alternating targets. For more information on FRS and Active Directory replication please see the Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference.

A replica set consists of two or more computers configured to replicate the contents of a file folder. The individual computers are referred to as replica members.

FRS maintains logs of "change orders" that are either received from replication partners (the inbound log), or are to be sent to outbound replication partners (the outbound log).

The inbound log stores pending change orders to be processed. As entries are processed, FRS sends acknowledgment to the inbound partners. Data stored in the inbound log includes the globally unique identifier (GUID) of the change order, the file name, the object ID, the parent object ID, the version number, and the event time.

The outbound log stores pending change orders to be sent to outbound partners. Change orders remain in the outbound log until all outbound partners receive and acknowledge the change. Data stored in the outbound log is the same as that stored in the inbound log. Also in the outbound log is the leading (next change) and trailing (last acknowledged) index for each partner.

The outbound logs can become quite large, particularly when replica members are unavailable, links between replicas are slow, replication hours are restricted, or a large number of changes occur. For example, even when a member for a given replica set is unavailable, outbound log entries are maintained until the member becomes available. When the changes are then sent, the inbound partner sends all changes in log file order.

System Requirements

  • Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003

  • Perl 5.005 521e or 522e

Files Required

  • Connstat.cmd

  • Ntfrsutl.exe

See Also

Concepts

Connstat Remarks
Connstat Syntax
Connstat Examples
Alphabetical List of Tools
Topchk.cmd
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Rsdiag Overview
Iologsum Overview
Health_chk Overview
Ftonline Overview
Filever Overview
Efsinfo Overview
Dmdiag Overview
Dskprobe Overview
Diruse Overview
Dfsutil Overview
Connstat Overview
Cabarc Overview
Bitsadmin Overview