dfs replication

[tensux]

Anyone have any experience with this? I am moving 15 people from my accounting dept of people from one location to another. We are leaving 5 people behind at the old location that will need to access our file server. Our IT consultant is pushing dfs, i am wondering if this more complicated than we need. Why not have the location with 2 people just vpn into the larger location. We have plenty of bandwith. I know we will need active directory replicated at the old location. I worried about any complications caused the file conflicts etc. Are they selling us something we dont need?

[]LoL[Harm]

I think that yes, he is selling you something that you don't need. VPN solution for 5 people would probably be acceptable, but that is under the assumption that the files they are accessing are isolated files, as in, they are not executing an application that accesses the files and manipulates them (if that is the case VPN performance may cause heavy slow downs on the locally run apps that are accessing remote files). If they are just files (i.e. documents, excel spreadsheets, porn mpegs and illegal mp3's) then a VPN connection should be more than enough for the 5 remaining users.

Now, if the files in question are tied to applications, then you may have cause to move in a different direction.

In truth though you would be best off talking to your 5 remote people and find out how they use their stuff. This is pretty essential in to designing the best solution. Of course you may have already done that.

It may be good to just make them a WAN so they can access the files like anyone on the LAN could (i.e. \\servername\share). This however will create costs on the network side of things.

I guess my main point is, I don't think DFS is necessary but there are occasions when it is. A full cost analysis on the implementation of DFS and the continued upkeep of it should be compared to other solutions such as creating a WAN or having them VPN in to access the files.

[shifty]

VPN would be acceptable. So would RSync, and that's free, but takes more than "Microsoft Level" skills to setup.

[tensux]

thanks guys, anyone else, anyone else have an opinion on it? i have been here a month only and i need to convince the company that these IT consultants they have used for years are selling us what we don't need, as much ammo as possible would be good, thanks

[lilith]

Just make sure the consultants aren't related to the pres of the company or something before you start taking aim at 'em.. :p

[tensux]

of course there is a relation, but they want my honest input anyway, lol

[Ninjahedge]

Then DFS is a good idea when you expand but you might want to try the free option first to see if it satisfies your needs at present.

The IT guys just want a new toy.

[tensux]

the IT guys are outside consultants, i think they want to create a system more complex than we need so that we will need their support to manage it

[]LoL[Harm]

What I would do then is propose that you test drive the VPN solution first. Since it would most likely be the quickest to setup and the cheapest. If that doesn't fit the bill, move to more complex and expensive solutions. Anyone who likes to save money should feel that the above is a good approach.

[tensux]

thanks i will give it a shot

[Ninjahedge]

LoL[Harm;3753']What I would do then is propose that you test drive the VPN solution first. Since it would most likely be the quickest to setup and the cheapest. If that doesn't fit the bill, move to more complex and expensive solutions. Anyone who likes to save money should feel that the above is a good approach.

Hell, I did.


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