Active/Active DEM DFS-N replication

[mcity]

We have an Active/Active multi-site configuration, for DFS-N replication, is HUB and Spoke the only supported configuration or can one use full mesh?

[DEMdev]

Hi @mcity,

Given that you're talking about replication, I guess you mean DFS-R? And is this about DEM configuration shares or profile archive shares?

[mcity]

Yes it about DEM configuration shares or profile archive shares. 

The KB below shows only DFS-N is supported

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2113460

[mcity]

I meant DEM configuration shares

[DEMdev]

DFS-N (Namespaces) can be used for both the configuration share and the profile archive share.

DFS-R (Replication) can only be used for the configuration share, and – if used – must be configured in hub and spoke topology.

[mcity]

If I use DFS-N (Namespaces) for both the configuration share and the profile archive share, then I have to rely on the backend storage to do the replication. Correct? 

[DEMdev]

If I use DFS-N (Namespaces) for both the configuration share and the profile archive share, then I have to rely on the backend storage to do the replication. Correct? 

I assume so, but I don't have IT/deployment expertise. Hopefully one of the other forum users can provide some insight here.

[mcity]

Am asking as we have our backend storage replicates between the two sites, hence DFS-N should be the way we go. Lastly, is DFS-N full mesh topology is supported by VMware? there is not much information out there..

[zhornsby221]

our customer has both DFS-N and DFS-R configured for profiles and config share between two sites. the key is to have individual share targets at each location as dem profiles do not fully support DFS-R

example:

DFS-N= domain name\userdata\dem\dem_profile

DFS-R= site one>> ServerFS01=active target, ServerFS02

DFS-R= site two>> ServerFS03=active target, ServerFS04

[mcity]

Thanks @zhornsby221 

I am trying to avoid DFS-R as it's not fully or supported by VMware, hence I would like to use NetApp backend storage replication.

[mcity]

How is this configured so that DEM user settings is only writeable on one file server while the other one is read only?

[mcity]

I am looking at the link below, which mean I have to us Hub and Spoke.

https://techzone.vmware.com/resource/dynamic-environment-manager-architecture#configuration-share

I am thinking of implementing Centralized configuration share, so that changes to the configuration share are made to a primary copy, which is then replicated to the two sites using DFS-R.

Only draw back is that the namespace is active on one site and has to be failed over manually in case of an outage

[jason_resilio]

Resilio Connect offers full mesh and/or bidirectional sync for active-active HA using VMware Horizon and DFS.  You would use Connect instead of DFSR for the DFS namespace.  See https://marketplace.cloud.vmware.com/services/details/resilio-connect-1?slug=true and https://www.resilio.com/usecases/vdi-synchronization/  

Besides active/active HA, you should also see improved login times for virtual desktop users, especially in multi-site configs.