Hosting file server remotely

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Guys,

We're looking at consolidating our network infrastrucuture into one office (HQ)... The consolidation project itself is not too difficult, there's not much to consolidate, just an email server, AD, etc.. The problem is the consolidation of the File Server in remote office.

Without having some kind of device like Riverbed, that optimizes data transfer rates, does deduplication of files, etc.. it would take too long for a remote office user to open a file that is lets say, 10MB that is located in the HQ office. Aside from having these thirdy party appliances such as Riverbed, what do you think is best to do? Should I even bother with consolidating the File Server? I am trying to avoid other applications like Citrix, View, etc, want to make it look like it's local with no extra hurdles to jump... But this is also a requirement.

Is DFS capable of doing deduplication and compression to a point where it would be sufficient? Never really installed DFS before but it would not be an issue to setup...

 

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Have you taken a look at BranchCache?

It could be an ideal solution if your client machines are running Windows 7.

 

DFS doesn't do depupe, but if you have DFS R with Server 2008 R2 Enterprise then after the initial seed you are replicating changes which are kind of block level using RPC Microsoft Windows: Make the Move to DFS

We use DFS R and it works a treat after the initial seed.

 

I second dfs-r

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate it, regardless.. I would still have to have a file server in the remote office where users would access the files. I am looking for something that will completely remove all servers in the remote office leaving just the workstations and the physical network, I.E, routers/switches, etc. We currently have a 7MB line connecting the remote office to HQ.

Honestly I am not sure its possible without having some sort of an appliance or a piece of software that takes care of replication, deduplication, compression, etc... The main issue here is that with the file server being in a remote location, accessing files that are couple of MB+ would take too much time to open or save for an average user.

 

We have users working directly over 10MB links to a head office for all applications, no TS, Citrix or Viwe.

It's pretty damn good most of the time.

 

Did you look at BranchCache? If you run it in distributed mode, it doesn't require a server at the remote site as it uses P2P technology to cache files on local machines.

I've never seen it implemented, but from the way Microsoft talk about it in their exams, it's sounds pretty good.

 

I see, so you guys have DFS-R implemented but for some remote locations, you guys don't use a replica DFS server in the remote site? they just pull everything of the 10MB pipe? and DFS-R takes care of it behind the scene sort of speak?

 

I am actully looking into, thanks for the link, just reading up on it.

 

Yep we have clients who have a 10MB MPLS and don't want a server on site, everything they do is over the wire, no servers on site.

We have other clients with slightly less bandwidth with RODC and DFS R in place and everything zips along.

 

Interesting... Will have to look into it then... What about email? they connect through the 10MB pipe as well?

 

Aye but don't forget emails are cached in Outlook so no problem there.

 

It's actually Lotus notes, not Exchange unfortunately... but you're right, regardless... there will be an initial seeding phase...

 

I would rather do the same... but its not up to me