How to Force an Authoritative DFSR Sync of SYSVOL - Fix Group Policy Replication

Introduction

This tutorial walks you through the process of forcing an authoritative DFSR synchronization of SYSVOL. This is essential for fixing issues with Group Policy replication across your domain controllers. If your Group Policy Objects (GPOs) are not replicating correctly, this guide will help you restore proper synchronization.

Step 1: Verify DFSR Health

Before initiating an authoritative sync, check the health of the DFSR service on your domain controllers.

• Open a Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
• Run the following command to check the DFSR health status:

  dfsrdiag pollad
  

• Verify that there are no errors or issues reported.

Step 2: Identify Authoritative Domain Controller

Choose the domain controller that has the most up-to-date SYSVOL data. This will be your authoritative source.

• Use the Active Directory Users and Computers tool to check SYSVOL contents.
• Ensure this controller has the latest GPOs and related files.

Step 3: Set Authoritative SYSVOL

Once you've identified the authoritative domain controller, you'll need to mark its SYSVOL as authoritative.

• Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator.
• Use the following command to set the authoritative SYSVOL:

  dfsrdiag pollad
  

• Confirm that the DFSR service is running on the authoritative domain controller.

Step 4: Force DFSR Sync

Now, force the DFSR sync to replicate the authoritative SYSVOL to other domain controllers.

• In PowerShell, run the following command:

  dfsrdiag syncnow /rgname:DOMAIN /rfname:SYSVOL
  

• Replace "DOMAIN" with your actual domain name.
• Monitor the output for any errors during the sync process.

Step 5: Verify Replication Status

After forcing the sync, check the replication status to ensure everything is functioning correctly.

• Use the following command to check the replication status:

  dfsrdiag pollad
  

• Look for successful replication messages and ensure that all domain controllers are showing updated SYSVOL content.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Ensure that the DFSR service is running on all domain controllers before starting the synchronization.
• Double-check that the authoritative controller has the latest data to avoid data loss.
• Be cautious with permissions; ensure you have administrative access to make changes.

Conclusion

Forcing an authoritative DFSR sync can resolve issues with SYSVOL and Group Policy replication. By following these steps—checking DFSR health, identifying the authoritative controller, setting it as authoritative, forcing synchronization, and verifying the replication status—you can effectively address replication problems. Regular monitoring and maintenance of your DFSR service can help prevent future issues. If problems persist, consider consulting additional resources or training for in-depth troubleshooting.