Windows Server - Troubleshooting DFS Replication Synchronization (non- SYSVOL replica sets)

Article Summary: This article details steps on troubleshooting DFS replication synchronization on non-SYSVOL replica sets  

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1. Check for backlogs:

    a. Run a diagnostic report.

          i. Server 2012 and later - Click Server Manager, click Tools, then click DFS Management
             Server 2008, 2008 R2 - Click Start -> Administrative Tools -> DFS Management
         ii. Expand Replication 
        iii.  Right-click on the replication group for the namespace.
        iv. Click Create Diagnostic Report 
         v. Choose Next all the way through the Wizard.
        vi. The report will open automatically in the default web browser. It will also be available in
             C:\DFSReports when the browser is closed.

    b. From an elevated command prompt run 'DFSDiag /TestDFSIntegrity /DFSRoot:<DFS root path> /Full'
        and troubleshoot the results.  Pipe results to a file ( <cmdstring> > dfsdiag.txt) to facilitate item review.

    c. Run a propagation test using the same routine as the diagnostic report, but choose Propagation Test on
        the initial page instead of Health Check.

2. Check for delays:

    a. Validate NIC drivers are up to date.

    b. Validate anti-virus software is DFS-aware (i.e., correct exclusions are set) or consider temporarily disabling
        as a means of troubleshooting.

    c. Check bandwidth throttling

        i. Server 2012 and later - Click Server Manager, click Tools, then click DFS Management
           Server 2008, 2008 R2 - Click Start -> Administrative Tools -> DFS Management
       ii. Expand Replication
      iii. Click on the replication group for the namespace.
      iv. Click on the Connections tab.
       v. Right-click the replication group member and choose Properties.
      vi. Ensure "Enable replication" and RDC are checked.
     vii. Click the Schedule tab. Click View Schedule.
    viii. Make sure that bandwidth usage says "Full". On the other hand if it is throttled, consider increasing to see if
          it has a positive impact on performance.

    d. Check the Staging Quota. The default is 4Gb.

        i. Click Server Manager, click Tools, then click DFS Management.
       ii. Expand Replication
      iii. Click on the replication group for the namespace having issues. 
     iv. Right click each member of the replication group in the Memberships tab. 
      v. Click the Staging tab. 
      vi. If 4Gb is not sufficient based on the file sizes in the data set, consider increasing.
            Advanced Staging area sizing:
            http://blogs.technet.com/b/askds/archive/2011/07/13/how-to-determine-the-minimum-staging-area-dfsr-needs-for-a-replicated-folder.aspx


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Background information on DFS-R implementation can be found at:
http://www.adshotgyan.com/2010/12/dfsr-replication-group-in-windows-2008.html

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