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 and nearly completely rewritten in Windows Server 2003 R2, 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. A Windows Server 2003 server can also 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), is also improved in that it's more resilient to transient network errors. Those of you using RoboCopy might find that FRS now fulfills that need.
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 2003. 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 front end 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 a third of this chapter to file servicesfolder sharing, permissions , shadow copies, Dfs, and backup strategies, techniques, and proceduresand another third to print server functionality, including separator pages, custom configuration , driver distribution, location tracking, and spooler services. The final third is concerned with a user service known as roaming profiles, which allows your users' preferred desktop settings to travel with them to any workstation in the network they might be using. |
