Setting File and Folder Filters

File and folder filters are maintained for each FRS replica set including:

• SYSVOL
• Domain-based Dfs root shares
• Domain-based Dfs links

By default, the following files and folders are excluded from FRS replication:

• Encrypting File System (EFS)–encrypted files and folders that are computer specific
• File names starting with a tilde (~) character
• Files with .bak or .tmp extensions
• NTFS mount points
• All reparse points

Filters act as exclusion filters only for new files and folders added to a replica set. They have no effect on existing files in the replica set. For example, if you change the file filter from "*.tmp, *.bak" to "*.tmp, *.old," FRS does not go through the replica set and exclude all files that match *.old. Nor does it go through the replica set and begin to replicate all files that match *.bak.

After the filter change, new files that enter the replica set matching *.old are not replicated. New files entering the replica set matching *.bak are replicated. In addition, any preexisting file in the replica set that matched the old file filter (such as Test.bak, created when the old filter was in force) is not automatically replicated when the filter changed. You must explicitly modify such files before they begin replicating. Likewise, you must explicitly delete any preexisting files in the replica set that match *.old. Until that happens, changes to those files continue to replicate.

These rules apply in the same manner to the directory exclusion filter. In addition, for directories, if a directory is excluded, all subdirectories and files under that directory are also excluded.

The rationale for these rules is as follows. If you accidentally change a filter to exclude a file like *.doc, FRS does not go through and delete every Microsoft® Word file in the replica set. Similarly, if you unintentionally omit *.tmp from the filter, FRS does not go through each replica and begin replicating every temporary file it finds.

Use the Active Directory Users and Computers console to modify a file or folder filter.

To change the file or folder filter

1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers, click View, and then click Advanced Features.
2. In the console tree, expand System, expand File Replication Service, and then expand DFS Volumes.
3. Expand the Dfs root and link that has the filter you want to change.
4. Right-click the link, and then click Properties.
5. On the Replica Set tab, enter your changes in the File Filter box, and then click OK.

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