Module 9
Implementing networking for
branch offices
Module Overview
• Networking features and considerations for
branch offices
• Implementing DFS for branch offices
• Implementing BranchCache for branch offices
Lesson 1: Networking features and considerations
for branch offices
• Scenarios for branch offices
• Branch office considerations
• Options for providing network connectivity to
branch offices
• Considerations for providing AD DS and DNS
services to branch offices
• Considerations for implementing presentation
virtualization for branch offices
• Considerations for providing file services to
branch offices
• Considerations for providing print services to
branch offices
Scenarios for branch offices
Several scenarios affect the IT infrastructure in
branch offices:
• Unreliable or slow WAN connection
• Small user population
• Lack of IT staff
• Lack of physical security or secure infrastructure
storage
• Dependency on head office infrastructure
Branch office considerations
Considerations for branch offices include:
• Security
• Availability and reliability
• Performance and capacity
• Legal and regulatory requirements
• IT organization
• Business considerations
• Cost
Options for providing network connectivity to
branch offices
• A WAN link is the most critical component for
providing network services
• WAN link properties include:
• Link type
• Link bandwidth
• Link latency
• Link utilization
• Link reliability
• Use the Remote Access role to provide secure
WAN links over Internet connections
Considerations for providing AD DS and DNS
services to branch offices
An RODC provides the following services to
branch offices:
• Read-only AD DS
• Read-only DNS
• Credential caching
• Administrative role separation
Considerations for implementing presentation
virtualization for branch offices
• Remote Desktop Services allows users to run
Windows-based applications remotely or to
access full desktops virtually from multiple types
of devices
• Installation of the Remote Desktop Services role
is scenario-based
• Benefits include:
• Quick deployment of applications
• Ease of application maintenance
• Support for multiple device types
• High-end applications can be run from low-end
systems
• Good performance across slow connections
Considerations for providing file services to
branch offices
The File and Storage Services role has several
features that can improve network file access from
branch offices:
• DFS
• BranchCache
• SMB 3.0
Considerations for providing print services to
branch offices
Using Branch Office Direct Printing, client computers can
print directly to network printers that are shared on a
print server
Main office
Print server
Print request Print redirect
Branch office
Print job
Client computer Managed printer
Lesson 2: Implementing DFS for branch offices
• Implementing DFS namespaces
• Implementing DFS replication
• Scenarios for implementing DFS
• Planning for DFS
• Optimizing namespaces and replication
• Demonstration: Configuring DFS namespaces and
replication
• Managing DFS databases
• Monitoring and troubleshooting DFS
Implementing DFS namespaces
DFS namespaces can be configured as:
• Domain-based namespaces
• Standalone namespaces
To configure a namespace for publishing content:
1. Create a namespace
2. Create a folder in the namespace
3. Add folder targets
4. Set the ordering method for targets in referrals
Implementing DFS replication
• When DFSR is implemented, it:
• Uses remote differential compression
• Uses a staging folder to stage a file before sending or
receiving the file
• Detects changes on the volume by monitoring the USN
journal
• Uses a vector version exchange protocol
• Recovers from failure
• Configure and manage DFSR by using the
cmdlets from the DFSR module for Windows
PowerShell
Scenarios for implementing DFS
Branch office Hub site or branch office
Sharing files
across branch
offices
Branch office Hub site
Data collection
Branch office Hub site
Data
distribution
Considerations for Planning DFS
User in New York Server in New York
2
1
\\Contoso.com\Marketing
DFS
1 \\NYC-SRV-01\ProjectDocs Replication
Folder
Targets \\LON-SRV-01\ProjectDocs
Namespace
2
User in London Server in London
1. User enters : \\contoso.com\marketing
Client computers contact a namespace server and receive a referral
2. Client computers cache the referral and then contact the first server in the
referral
Optimizing namespaces and replication
You can optimize DFS by:
• Renaming or moving a folder
• Disabling referrals to a folder
• Specifying referral cache duration
• Configuring namespace polling
• Configuring replication groups
• Creating multiple replicated folders
• Modifying replication topology
Demonstration: Configuring DFS namespaces
and replication
In this demonstration, you will see how to:
• Install the DFS Replication role service
• Create a new namespace
• Create a new folder and folder target
• Configure DFSR
Managing DFS databases
When managing a DFS database:
• Use these cmdlets to clone a DFS database:
• Export-DfrsClone
• Import-DfrsClone
• Use these cmdlets to recover a DFS database:
• Get-DfsrPreservedFiles
• Restore-DfsrPreservedFiles
Monitoring and troubleshooting DFS
Tool Use
Report replication statistics and
Health Report
general health of the topology
Generate a test file to verify
Propagation Test
replication
Report on the propagation test
Propagation Report
and provide replication statistics
Report on the current status of
Verify Topology
the members of the topology
Monitor replication state of the
Dfsrdiag.exe
DFS replication service
Configure, monitor, and
Windows PowerShell
troubleshoot DFS
Lesson 3: Implementing BranchCache for branch
offices
• How Does BranchCache Work?
• Understanding BranchCache modes
• BranchCache requirements
• Configuring BranchCache server settings
• Configuring BranchCache client settings
• Demonstration: Configuring BranchCache
• Using BranchCache for servers
• Monitoring BranchCache
How Does BranchCache Work?
The benefits of BranchCache include:
• Reducing the network use on WAN connections
between branch offices and headquarters
• Locally caching frequently used files on computers in
the branch office
• Improving the performance of applications that use
one of the following protocols:
• HTTP or HTTPS
• SMB, including signed SMB traffic protocol
• BITS
Understanding BranchCache modes
Head office
Branch office
(Hosted cache mode)
Branch office
(Distributed cache mode)
BranchCache requirements
• Requirements for using BranchCache:
• Install the BranchCache feature and, optionally,
BranchCache for Network Files role service
• Configure client computers by using either Group
Policy or the netsh command
• Requirements for the modes:
• For the distributed cache mode, configure the client
firewall to enable incoming traffic, HTTP, and
WS-Discovery
• For hosted cache mode, configure a firewall to enable
incoming HTTP traffic from the hosted cache server
Configuring BranchCache server settings
You must configure the following BranchCache
server components:
• Web server or BITS server
• File server
• Hosted cache server
Configuring BranchCache client settings
To enable and configure BranchCache:
1. Enable BranchCache by using Group Policy, Windows
PowerShell, or netsh branchcache set service
2. Enable distributed cache mode or hosted cache mode by
using Group Policy, Windows PowerShell, or netsh
branchcache set service
3. Configure the client firewall
You can modify BranchCache settings and perform
additional configuration tasks, such as:
• Setting the cache size
• Setting the location of the hosted cache server
• Clearing the cache
• Creating and replicating a shared key for using in a
server cluster
Demonstration: Configuring BranchCache
In this demonstration, you will learn how to:
• Add BranchCache for the Network Files role service
• Configure BranchCache in Local Group Policy
Editor
• Enable BranchCache for a file share
Using BranchCache for servers
• BranchCache-enabled content servers include:
• Web servers
• Application servers
• File servers
• WAN connectivity is critical for BranchCache
Monitoring BranchCache
The BranchCache monitoring tools include:
• Netsh branchcache shows status all command
• Get-BCStatus Windows Powershell cmdlet
• Event Viewer
• Performance monitor counters
Lab A: Implementing DFS for branch offices
• Exercise 1: Implementing DFS
• Exercise 2: Validating the deployment
Logon Information
Virtual machines: 20741B-LON-DC1
20741B-LON-SVR1
20741B-TOR-SVR1
20741B-SYD-SVR1
20741B-EU-RTR
20741B-LON-CL1
User name: Adatum\Administrator
Password: Pa55w.rd
Estimated Time: 45 minutes
Lab Scenario
A. Datum Corporation has several key shared
folders that must be accessible to users in Sydney
and Toronto. The folders are accessed by users in
Sydney only a few times per day, but are accessed
from Toronto constantly throughout the day. To
ensure that users have the optimal experience
when accessing the files, A. Datum has decided to
implement DFSR for the users in Toronto.
Lab B: Implementing BranchCache
• Exercise 1: Implementing BranchCache
• Exercise 2: Validating the deployment
Logon Information
Virtual machines: 20741B-LON-DC1
20741B-LON-SVR1
20741B-TOR-SVR1
20741B-SYD-SVR1
20741B-EU-RTR
20741B-LON-CL1
20741B-LON-CL2
User name: Adatum\Administrator
Password: Pa55w.rd
Estimated Time: 45 minutes
Lab Scenario
Datum Corporation has several key shared folders
that must be accessible to users in remote
locations.
The Sydney office hosts files from a sales
application that are routinely accessed by clients
in the London location. The files are viewed only
by London users, not edited, and their sizes range
from 25 MB to 150 MB.
Lab Scenario (continued)
Toronto users need access to files that are hosted
in London. These files, which users access
throughout the day, are modified by London users
and Toronto users, and the London users would like
quick, reliable access to them.
To ensure that users have the optimal experience
when accessing the files, A. Datum has decided to
implement BranchCache for the file shares located
in Sydney, and DFSR for the users in Toronto.
Lab Review
• In this lab, you moved SYD-SVR1 to its own
organizational unit. Why?
• When would you consider implementing
BranchCache into your own organization?
Module Review and Takeaways
• Review Questions
