Windows Server: How to Perform an Authoritative Sync of SYSVOL Data Using the File Replication Service (FRS)

Summary: This article illustrates the procedure for performing an authoritative sync of SYSVOL data on an Active Directory domain controller (DC) using the File Replication Service (FRS).

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Important: This article is only applicable if SYSVOL data is being replicated using the File Replication Service (FRS). FRS has been deprecated but may still be in use in Active Directory domains that were created with functional levels earlier than Windows Server 2008. To determine whether FRS is in use, run the dfsrmig /getmigrationstate command at an elevated command prompt on a DC. If the migration state is "Eliminated," FRS is not in use, and this article is not applicable.

The SYSVOL folder hierarchy, present on all DCs, is used to store two important sets of data:
  • Group Policy template files. These are stored in separate folders beneath \\SYSVOL\<domain>\Policies.
  • Logon, logoff, startup, and shutdown scripts used by machines in the domain. These are stored in \\SYSVOL\<domain>\scripts. The scripts folder is itself shared as NETLOGON.
This data is replicated among domain controllers, but SYSVOL replication takes place separately from Active Directory replication. It is possible for one to fail while the other is fully functional. In some situations, SYSVOL replication may fail and be unable to resume without manual intervention. The following steps perform an authoritative sync of SYSVOL. In an authoritative sync, FRS initializes SYSVOL using the server's own copy of the SYSVOL data, rather than copying the data from another DC. An authoritative sync is necessary if the DC with the most up-to-date copy of the SYSVOL data is the one on which FRS has stopped working. This is implicitly true if there is only one DC in the domain.

The steps for performing a non-authoritative sync of FRS-replicated SYSVOL data can be found in How to Perform a Non-Authoritative Sync of SYSVOL Data Using the File Replication Service (FRS).

To perform an authoritative sync of SYSVOL, follow these steps on the affected DC (the DC with the most up-to-date copy of the SYSVOL data):
  1. Stop the File Replication Service.
  2. Launch Registry Editor.
  3. Browse to HKLM\CCS\Services\NtFrs\Parameters\Backup/Restore\Process at Startup.
  4. Double-click the BurFlags entry and set it to a hexadecimal value of D4.
  5. Start the File Replication Service.
  6. Launch Event Viewer and check the File Replication Service event log (located in Applications and Services Logs) for informational event 13516. It may take a few minutes for this event to appear.
  7. Once event 13516 has appeared, run the net share command and confirm the presence of the SYSVOL and NETLOGON shares in the output. The SYSVOL data should not have changed during this procedure.
In a domain with multiple DCs, additional steps may be required. It may be necessary to perform a non-authoritative sync of SYSVOL on one or more of the other DCs after the authoritative sync has completed. This can be determined by checking the FRS event logs of the other DCs for error or warning events appearing after completion of the authoritative sync. See the link above for information about performing a non-authoritative sync.

The following video demonstrates the authoritative sync procedure:

Authoritative Sync of SYSVOL Data Using FRS

Duration: 06:25
 

Affected Products

Microsoft Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Windows Server 2019, Microsoft Windows Server 2022, Microsoft Windows 2012 Server, Microsoft Windows 2012 Server R2

Products

PowerEdge FC640, PowerEdge M640, PowerEdge M640 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge MX740C, PowerEdge MX750c, PowerEdge MX760c, PowerEdge MX840C, PowerEdge R240, PowerEdge R250, PowerEdge R260, PowerEdge R340, PowerEdge R350, PowerEdge R360, PowerEdge R440 , PowerEdge R450, PowerEdge R540, PowerEdge R550, PowerEdge R640, PowerEdge R6415, PowerEdge R650, PowerEdge R650xs, PowerEdge R6515, PowerEdge R6525, PowerEdge R660, PowerEdge R660xs, PowerEdge R6615, PowerEdge R6625, PowerEdge R740, PowerEdge R740XD, PowerEdge R740XD2, PowerEdge R7415, PowerEdge R7425, PowerEdge R750, PowerEdge R750XA, PowerEdge R750xs, PowerEdge R7515, PowerEdge R7525, PowerEdge R760, PowerEdge R760XA, PowerEdge R760xd2, PowerEdge R760xs, PowerEdge R7615, PowerEdge R7625, PowerEdge R840, PowerEdge R860, PowerEdge R940, PowerEdge R940xa, PowerEdge R960, PowerEdge T140, PowerEdge T150, PowerEdge T160, PowerEdge T340, PowerEdge T350, PowerEdge T360, PowerEdge T440, PowerEdge T550, PowerEdge T560, PowerEdge T640 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000202202
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 10 Dec 2024
Version:  9
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