I just built a brand new server with Windows Server 2012 and have configured a DFS Root with linked folders on it and found an issue.
Scenario:
\\Server\Storage share is setup for S:\ (NET SHARE Storage=S:\ /Grant:"BUILTIN\Administrators",FULL /Grant:"NT Authority\Authenticated Users",READ)
DFS Root Configured to point to \\Server\Storage (DFSUTIL /AddFtRoot /Server:SERVER /Share:Storage)
\\Server\Storage\Test is a linked folder pointing to\\Server2\Test (DFSUTIL LINK ADD \\Domain\Storage\Test \\SERVER2\Test)
Within 1 hour of creating the linked folder, restarting the computer, or restarting the DFS service, the folder disappears and the following event is logged in the event log:
Event 518
DFSN service has successfully deleted DFS reparse point \STORAGE on volume S:\. The reparse point was deleted because it was not belonging to any of the namespaces on this server.
The interesting thing is that while the folder is no longer visible - you can still access the folder directly by going to\\Domain\Storage\Test.
After a few hours of troubleshooting - I finally think I tracked down the issue and at least have it working.
The problem only occurs for me if the DFS Root Share points to the root of a drive. In this case\\Domain\Storage points to \\Server\Storage and the Storage share points to the S: drive. I tried similar Roots/Folders on other drives with the same results.
If, however, I create a root that points to a share that is not at the Root Level of a drive (i.e. NET SHARE Storage=S:\Storage) - than the problem goes away.
This issue occurs regardless of Security/Share permissions. I've also tried all of the common T/S steps I've seen while researching this (Checking replication, etc). Windows 2012 is fully up to date with patches.
Any other suggestions/thoughts? While I have it working by pointing to a sub-folder on the drive - that is not the way I'd like it to be...
Joseph W. Leathlean