3.3 Getting Started

After the install and administrator setup, you can begin using Dynamic File Services to create pairs and policies. This section provides an overview of the key tasks. For planning and use information, see the Dynamic File Services 2.2 Administration Guide.

3.3.1 Configuring Network and Remote Shares

Use the Windows Network Sharing feature to set up a network share for each path that you plan to use as a primary location in a Dynamic File Services pair. After you set up a standard pair, users can map to the network share on its primary location to get a merged view of the data on the primary and secondary locations. For a retention pair, users see only the data on the primary path; they use the Web interface to the Retention Review Service to view data in the retention repository.

Remote shares that you want to use as secondary paths must be created and published in Active Directory before you attempt to create the pair that uses the remote location. Add the Dynamic File Services Storage Rights group to the share, and grant all permissions for the group. For requirements, see Using Remote Shares in an Active Directory Domain in the Dynamic File Services 2.2 Administration Guide.

Continue with Section 3.3.2, Connecting to a Server.

3.3.2 Connecting to a Server

Use the Dynamic File Services Management Console to connect to the server you want to manage.

  1. Open the Management Console, then open the Server Wizard.

    When no pairs or policies are defined on the target server, a Server Wizard opens automatically to help you set up a connection to the server you want to manage.

  2. Provide the following information:

    • IP address or DNS name of the DynamicFS server you want to manage.

      If you are managing the server locally (that is, you are logged in to the server), you can use localhost or the loopback IP address (127.0.0.1) to manage the server without enabling an exception in the firewall for the Service port.

    • The Dynamic File Service port number (default 8999).

    • The username and password credentials for a user that you added to the Dynamic File Services group or for the Administrator user on the target DynamicFS server.

  3. Click Connect.

    If you are connecting to a remote server, you are prompted to accept the Dynamic File Services SSL certificate. For information, see Accepting a Dynamic File Services Certificate in the Dynamic File Services 2.2 Administration Guide.

    The server folder is created and appears in the left panel.

  4. Continue with Section 3.3.3, Creating the First Pair and Policy.

3.3.3 Creating the First Pair and Policy

In the Dynamic File Services Management Console, use the Setup Wizard to create a pair and a policy. The pair and policy are automatically associated.

If no pairs or policies have been defined on that server, the Setup Wizard opens automatically to help you to create a pair, to create a policy for the pair, and to associate the policy to the pair.

For information, see the following sections in the Dynamic File Services 2.2 Administration Guide:

  1. Creating a Pair

  2. Creating a Policy

  3. Providing Users with a Merged View of the Files in a Standard Pair

Continue with Section 3.3.4, Creating More Pairs and Policies.

3.3.4 Creating More Pairs and Policies

Use any of the following methods to create additional Dynamic File Services pairs and policies:

  • Pair: Right-click Pairs under the server in the left panel, then select Pair Wizard.

  • Policy: Right-click Policies under the server in the left panel, then select Policy Wizard.

  • Pair and Policy: Right-click the server in the left panel, then select Setup Wizard.

For information, see the following sections in the Dynamic File Services 2.2 Administration Guide:

Continue with Section 3.3.5, Running Policies.

3.3.5 Running Policies

The policies for a Dynamic File Services pair run at their next scheduled time, but you can run a policy at any time by right-clicking a pair and selecting the Execute Now option.

Run a single policy at a time on a pair to enforce its rules for moving data. A file is moved if it meets all of the filter options specified in the rule.

Configure multiple policies to run at the same time on a pair to enforce alternative rules for moving data. When the group of policies moves files in both directions, the primary-to-secondary policies are grouped and enforced, then the secondary-to-primary policies are grouped and enforced. A file is moved if it meets the rules for any one of the policies.

Continue with Section 3.3.6, Accessing Files on a Standard Pair.

3.3.6 Accessing Files on a Standard Pair

Dynamic File Services allows users to access data for both paths of a standard pair via a network share that you create on the primary path. They see files on the primary and secondary locations as if the files are all stored on a single device.

The native access control of the underlying file systems controls user access to the data. All user access to the secondary path is made via the merged view of the data. Dynamic File Services does not need to relocate the data to give the user access to data on the secondary path.

In order to set access control on data in the pair, you should access the merged view of the data via the network share on the primary path, then set the access control for files and directories as you normally would.