Windows – DFS Replication Manager on Failover Cluster Nodes

There are many reasons why replication can fail. Unfortunately symptoms alone don't help here.

Can you please review the information at http://blogs.technet.com/b/askds/archive/2009/04/09/dfsr-debug-log-series-wrapup-and-downloadable-copies.aspx and then update the question with any specific debug log entries you see from both servers?

The blog is a little out of date given that you are using 2012 R2 but it will still help.

Please provide entries specific to this folder only.

Alternatively I suggest doing the following to re-initialise B using A.

1. Backup B. This is necessary if you have end users who committed changes on B but don't realise it hasn't replicated to A. The below steps will revert all data on B to versions as of A which might cause some "data loss" if B changes have not been backed up.

2. Disable B as a member for that replicated folder(RF) using the DFS console on B. This updates the configuration for the topology on a DC nearest to B (or rather one B is using now).

3. Do a "dfsrdiag pollad" on B to make it read the topology changes from AD

4. Run "wmic /namespace:\\root\microsoftdfs path dfsrreplicatedfolderinfo get replicatedfoldername,replicationgroupname,state". Ensure the folder does NOT appear in the list. (edited: fixed wmic namespace).

5. Look for an event 4114 indicating that folder has stopped replicating

6. Optionally also look in the debug logs for any entries by ldbmanager::deleteidrecords which indicate database from been cleaned up.

7. Re-enable the B member using DFS console on B.

8. Do a "dfsrdiag pollad" on B to ensure it picks up the changes

9. If A and B are in different sites and you end up disabling/enabling B before A realises, then you need not do anything on A. Else you may have to also take into account Ad replication latency and wait for AD changes to converge to DC used by A. Then do a "dfsrdiag pollad" to ensure it picks up each topology change you do (i.e. the disable and then the enabling of the member).

10. Run "wmic /namespace:\root\microsoftdfs path dfsrreplicatedfolderinfo get replicatedfoldername,replicationgroupname,state". Ensure the folder eventually gets to state 4. More details of state are here http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2008/10/27/how-to-check-if-the-initial-replication-was-completed-successfully.aspx

If this still fails to fix, then debug log entries are required to give a more specific answer.

I'm afraid I wont be able to do a back and forth repeatedly answering questions based troubleshooting. I suggest raising a case with Microsoft support if you need further help. Else others on the site may have the time to help you.

This answer:

DFS and Replication mesh between 3 servers - How is a local server selected

Pretty much addresses my primary concern. Users sitting at their desk would query the local DC for the local file share.

The offline data sync for other sites should work, I'm just not sure how.