Introduction

With the release of version 10.5, Acronis Files Connect (formerly ExtremeZ-IP) supports Mac computers access to Microsoft Distributed File System (DFS) file shares in two ways. 

• The Files Connect Mac Client app "DFS"; tab - Used to list DFS namespaces and mount specific resources within them.
• The Files Connect Network Reshare feature - DFS namespace shares can be configured as Acronis Files Connect Network Reshare volumes. DFS target resolution simply occurs in the SMB reshare communication layer and Macs are able to seamlessly browse and access the reshared DFS resources presented in a standard AFP volume. No Mac client-side software or changes are required. Macs simply connect to Acronis Files Connect AFP Network Reshare volumes in the Finder and can immediately browse the DFS namespace.

For more details on Network Reshare, see our Configuring Network Reshare support in Acronis Files Connect article.

Limitations of DFS Reshare

Acronis Files Connect Server acts as a DFS client

When hosting a Network Reshare DFS volume, the Acronis Files Connect Windows server makes requests for resources located in DFS namespaces on behalf of the the Mac client. From the perspective of DFS, the Windows server itself is the client, not the actual Mac user making the request. For this reason, all DFS target selection and site costing will be negotiated for the Windows server, rather than the Mac client.

All Network Reshare communication is routed through the Acronis Files Connect Windows server

Network Reshare routes all communication between your Mac clients and your DFS namespaces through the Windows server where Acronis Files Connect is installed. This requires an extra network hop compared to the Mac client accessing DFS targets directly. For the best possible performance, it is recommended that Acronis Files Connect is installed on a server with the fastest available NICs, and ideally this server has one or more NICs dedicated to communicating with the servers, NAS, or DFS namespaces being reshared.

Acronis Files Connect Network Spotlight is not supported on a DFS reshare volume

Acronis Files Connect Network Reshare feature and Network Reshare DFS volume configuration

For full details on configuring your Acronis Files Connect server for Network Reshare and instructions on setting up a Network Reshare DFS volume, please see our Configuring Network Reshare support in Acronis Files Connect article.

For more discussion of additional deployment options for accessing DFS namespace data, please open a technical support case at https://support.acronis.com/mobility/