DFS Namespace Consolidation

My company had a stand-alone DFS namespace and wanted to move to a domain based namespace. As part of this, they wanted a new namespace setup. However, as some applications had the old namespace hard coded, there was a requirement to be able to use the old name for as well.

Once the old server was powered off, never to return, I was able to do this by following these steps:

1. On the new file server, open regedit. Add the following:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dfs\Parameters\Replicated

New dWord value

Name it ServerConsolidationRetry

Set the value as 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dfs\Parameters\Replicated

New dWord value

Name it LogServerConsolidation

Set the value as 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dnscache\Parameters

New Multi-String value

Name it AlternateComputerNames

Set the value (one line each) to the FQDN of the old server (eg. Oldnamespace.domain.com)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\parameters

New Multi-String value

Name it OptionalNames

Set the value (one line each) to the NETBios name of the old server (eg. Oldnamespace)

2. Create a new standalone DFS root with the old name with a hash (#) in front of the name - #oldnamespace
3. Within the namespace (#oldnamespace), create the folder shortcuts required to point to the new folder targets
4. In WINS, remove the entries for the old server names
5. In DNS, remove any entries for the old server names then add new CNAMES to point the “oldnamespace” to the new server
6. Delete the AD computer account for the old server
7. Restart the Server service on the new server.