Global Namespace for Simple Management
DFS simplifies the management of SMB network shares so you don't need to remember individual file server names any more.
DFS Cloud File Sharing
Adding cloud file sharing capabilities to Microsoft DFS and empower mobile workers with simple and easy remote file server access.
What is Microsoft DFS
The Distributed File System (DFS) functions provide the ability to logically group shares on multiple servers and to transparently link shares into a single hierarchical namespace. Here are two main DFS features.
DFS Replication for Reliability
A DFS link can have multiple SMB network shares mapped to it and form a replication group for copying files among the shares.
DFS was built with these Windows server features
Active Directory
With Active Directory, employees can log in to corporate machines with one single set of credential.
NTFS Permission
The NTFS file system brings the permission structure to folders and files with well understood security control.
Drive Mapping
Drive mapping is probably the most frequently used feature from end users when then login to their Windows workstation.
File Locking
File locking is another frequently used feature from NTFS and the CIFS/SMB protocol to lock files while they are being edited.
Storage Space Direct
With Windows storage space direct, Windows file servers can be pooled together to increase the storage capacity and grow on demand.
Virtual Machine
With the virtual machine technology, Windows file servers can be available from AWS, Windows Azure and various other data center locations.
Add Cloud File Sharing to DFS
We use DFS and the above Windows server features daily for on-premise works. However, when it comes to remote access, there are also Office 365 OneDrive, SharePoint Online, Azure Files, Dropbox, Box, ShareFile and etc public cloud storage services that compete with the Windows file server platform for your data.
Shall you manually copy files between DFS file shares and public cloud storage services for remote file access? Or shall we add modern cloud services to DFS infrastructure and elevate DFS into the cloud!
Modernizing DFS
Gladinet Triofox can be used by businesses to quickly enable secure remote access and mobile access to file servers without using a VPN, and without the lengthy copying or synchronizing to external storage services such as Office 365, Dropbox, or Box. Later on, Triofox can leverage more from the cloud for business continuity.
When more and more businesses practice social distancing at a time of a global pandemics, We're certainly seeing a lot more interest in faster ways to facilitate work from home use cases without compromising data privacy, security or compliance.
So we strongly encourage you to use Triofox and any other resources at your disposal to simplify remote work. For example, Triofox’s ability to simplify remote file server access could be critical for a company that depends on internal file servers.
Cloud Power + Web Simplicity + DFS Security? How??
Triofox is a web server that accepts file requests from client agents over the HTTPS/SSL protocol. These requests are then translated into Active Directory authentication, DFS lookup, and file server network share access protected by NTFS permissions. The file is sent back via HTTPS/SSL to the client agents when all permission checks have passed. Triofox uses this approach to combine the power of a mapped drive with the simplicity of web browsing and the security of a VPN!
Triofox Web Server
Triofox creates a web server front end accepting client agent requests from remote Windows, Mac, web browser, iOS and Android devices. Client agents
provide drive mapping functionality.
Agents Send File Requests
Client agents send HTTPS/SSL requests to the Triofox server. Triofox server can log the requests for auditing purpose and also coordinate the file access and sharing demands.
Active Directory Integration
Active Directory and NTFS permissions are used to check whether the file requests are allowed. After that, file requests are satisfied and returned via HTTPS/SSL to client agents.
Related Use Cases
Mobilize your workforce for quick and easy file server remote access and mobile access.
Move file server to cloud for better remote file access and cloud file sharing for mobile workers.
Easily turn your file servers into online file share servers and share files over the Internet.
Remote file server access without a VPN. Reduce support tickets. Save money and save time.
Compare Dropbox and Windows file server's strengths and weaknesses and come up with a solution.