DFS implementation

We are used to virtualization in our modern computing infrastructure. Virtual memory has been a fundamental concept in many operating systems for years; virtual disks, virtual machines, and virtual networks are all commonplace in today's IT environments.
The advantages of using a virtualization layer between clients and file servers are numerous, including the feature to load-balance access to file shares and providing disaster recovery methods for file shares.
Microsoft introduced DFS as an add-on to Windows NT 4.0, and DFS has been included as a free subsystem in all versions of Windows since Windows 2000. DFS consists of a server component, included in all versions of Windows Server, and a client component, included in all versions of Windows.
DFS works with the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol.
With DFS, the storage administrator creates a hierarchical namespace of links that point to his company's file shares.

One of the key component if CHILI publish is storing user files
You should consider using external storage to get rid of storage performance issues when running your Chili server on local disks, using external assets is a good starting point.
Microsoft can provide you with a built-in solution with DFS, which will allow you to run a HA solution with a redundant storage backend.
DFS = Distributed File System

How to use DFS on a chili server.

Components:

• 1 or more chili servers
• 2 AD Domain controllers (preferably in different availability zones)
• 2 file servers running as replicated file-servers via DFS (preferably in different availability zones)

The Chili Servers define a namespace \\ad.xxx.com\chili underneath this link the network share is mounted with highest priority on instance CP1A and secondary CP1B.

Remarks:

• If there would be a lag on replication from the second server (because if was shutdown for a long time) which would be bigger than 40GB the replication is automatically stopped and need to be restarted.
• !!! Chili-IIS-Servers and Chili Services should point to the virtual link \\ad.xxx.com\chili at all times the direct link cannot be used, it will jeopardize the availability and consistency of the data.
• Do not use multi master DFS

Some keypoints

• Integrated Replication
• Automated Failover
• Performance related to disk configuration
• Only use the DFS UNC path to mount your share
• Do not use multi master
• Secondary replica with failover