Section 3.1. New File and Print Server Features


3.1. New File and Print Server Features

Several new features have been added to Windows Server 2003 to enable faster, more seamless access to file and print services on your network. Although the infrastructure of the file and print systems has not been completely redesigned, it certainly has been modified to provide for ease-of-use enhancements, increased data integrity, automatic and assisted backup, and other key features, including the following.


Enhanced Distributed File System (Dfs)

Dfs is a feature, introduced in Windows NT but refined in Windows 2000, which permits an administrator to create one logical filesystem layout despite the fact that shares can be scattered across the network on different servers. This makes it easier for clients to find and store files consistently, and it allows for better equipment utilization. Windows Server 2003 adds the ability for a server to host multiple Dfs roots, which are "starting" points for a hierarchy of shared folders. As well, a Windows Server 2003 server can use Active Directory site topology to route Dfs requests from clients to the closest available server, increasing response time. The brother to Dfs, the File Replication Service (FRS), also is improved in that it's more resilient to transient network errors. Those of you using RoboCopy might find that FRS fulfills that need now.


Enhanced Encrypting File System (EFS)

Native encryption abilities are built into the NTFS filesystem used in this release of Windows. By simply checking a checkbox in the Properties sheet for a file, you can easily encrypt and decrypt files and folders to protect their integrity. This feature is particularly useful for mobile computers, which have a greater risk of data loss and capture than traditional corporate desktop machines.


Volume shadow copy

The volume shadow copy feature is perhaps one of the most beneficial additions to Windows Server. The server will take snapshots of files at specific periods during the day, thereby making available a library of previous versions of a file. If a user accidentally overwrites a file, saves an incorrect version, or somehow destroys the primary copy, he can simply click Previous Versions in the Explorer view of the folder and access a shadow copy version.


Enhanced content indexing services

The Indexing service catalogs and indexes the contents of server hard disks, enabling users to search in files in different formats and languages for the data they need. Interfaces to the search engine include the Search frontend on the Start menu at the client side, or, on the server side, HTML pages to which the client can surf. The engine has been enhanced in Windows Server 2003 to accelerate the search process and to use less processor time when cataloging and indexing files.

I devote half of this chapter to file servicesfolder sharing, permissions, shadow copies, Dfs, and backup strategies, techniques, and proceduresand the other half to print server functionality, including separator pages, custom configuration, driver distribution, location tracking, and spooler services.



    Learning Windows Server 2003
    Learning Windows Server 2003
    ISBN: 0596101236
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2003
    Pages: 149

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