You experience issues with DFS replication in a Windows Server 2003 R2-based AD environment

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Consider the following scenario:

1. You configure Distributed File System Replication (DFSR) between two Windows Server 2003 R2-based computers, Server1 and Server 2.
2. You put a new server, Server3, in this replication group. The replication works fine.
3. You remove Server 3 from this replication group and run the dfsrdiag pollad command.
4. You update the Active Directory to delete the content of the folder of Server 3.

In this scenario, when you put Server 3 back into this replication group, data loss may occur. Additionally, you may receive the wrong data.

DFSR keeps track of the root folder FID and processes a mechanism that is called tombstoning. When the server and the replicated folder are removed from the replica set data that is kept in Active Directory, the content set is kept in a tombstoned state.

The same folder is added back to the replica set, which is the same folder and therefore is the same FID, DFSR will not perform the sync again.

This problem occurs because the removal of the server and folder from the replication group is the result of any unintentional change or Active Directory replication latency.

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods.

Method 1

Delete the original folder and then create another folder that has the same name.

Method 2

Disable the replicated folder, delete the content, and then re-enable the folder.

This behavior is by design.

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