Introduction to File Server Resource Manager

Updated: February 27, 2008

With the increasing demand on storage resources, as organizations rely more heavily on data than
ever before, IT administrators face the challenge of overseeing a larger and more complex storage
infrastructure, while at the same time, tracking the kind of information available in it. Today, managing
storage resources not only includes data size and availability but also the enforcement of company
policies and a very good understanding of how existing storage is being used, allowing for sound
strategic planning and proper response to organizational changes.

File Server Resource Manager is a suite of tools that allows administrators to understand, control, and
manage the quantity and type of data stored on their servers. By using File Server Resource Manager,
administrators can place quotas on volumes, actively screen files and folders, and generate
comprehensive storage reports. This set of advanced instruments not only helps the administrator to
efficiently monitor existing storage resources, but it also aids in the planning and implementation of
future policy changes.

By using File Server Resource Manager, you can perform the following tasks:

 Create quotas to limit the space allowed for a volume or folder and generate e-mail and other
notifications when the quota limits are approached or exceeded.
 Automatically generate and apply quotas to all existing subfolders and any new subfolders in
a volume or folder.
 Create file screens to control the type of files that users can save, and send notifications
when users attempt to save blocked files.
 Define quota and file screening templates that can be easily applied to new volumes or
folders and reused across an organization.
 Schedule periodic storage reports that help identify trends in disk usage, or generate storage
reports instantly, on demand.

Using File Server Resource Manager

Updated: February 27, 2008

This section tells you how to open File Server Resource Manager and introduces its features.

In this section:

 Opening File Server Resource Manager

 Configuring File Server Resource Manager

 Managing Storage Resources on a Remote Computer
 Using Command-Line Tools for File Server Resource Manager

Opening File Server Resource Manager

File Server Resource Manager is a role service of the File Services role in Windows Server 2008. It can
be installed as part of the File Services role, using Server Manager. After you install the role service,
you can use the File Server Resource Manager Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in.

Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to use File
Server Resource Manager

To open File Server Resource Manager

 In Server Manager:
 1. Expand Roles, expand File Services, and then expand Share and Storage
Management.
2. Click File Server Resource Manager.

-Or-

 In Administrative Tools, click File Server Resource Manager.

Performing storage management tasks

The following is a list of tasks that you can perform from the three main nodes in the File Server
Resource Manager snap-in.

Quota management

 Create, manage, and obtain information about quotas, which are used to set a space limit on
a volume or folder. By defining notification thresholds, you can send e-mail notifications, log
an event, run a command or script, or generate reports when users approach or exceed a
quota.
 Create and manage quota templates to simplify quota management.

File screening management

 Create, manage, and obtain information about file screens, which are used to block selected
file types from a volume or folder. When users attempt to save unauthorized files, send an e-
mail to the administrators or generate similar notifications.
 Create file screen exceptions to override certain file screening rules.
 Create and manage file screen templates to simplify file screening management.
 Create and manage file groups. When used with file screens and file screen exceptions, file
groups determine which files will be blocked and which will be allowed.

Storage reports management

 Schedule and configure storage reports.

 Generate storage reports on demand.

Configuring File Server Resource Manager

You can set File Server Resource Manager options in the File Server Resource Manager Options
dialog box. These options include default e-mail notification settings, default parameters for storage
reports, and other settings that apply to multiple tasks. Some of these settings can be modified when
you work with quotas or screen files, or generate storage reports.

To configure File Server Resource Manager options

1. In the console tree, right-click File Server Resource Manager, and then click Configure
Options.

2. In the File Server Resource Manager Options dialog box, click a tab: E-mail
Notifications, Notification Limits, Storage Reports, Report Locations, or File Screen
Audit.

3. Enter settings specific for your server environment.

4. Click OK.
 Important

To send e-mail notifications to administrators or to users who exceed quotas or attempt to save
unauthorized files, or to send storage reports over e-mail, specify the SMTP server to use and the
default e-mail settings in the E-mail Notifications tab.

Important

If you will be generating reports to monitor file screening, select the Record file screening
activity in auditing database check box in the File Screen Audit tab. This will log file
screening activity in the auditing database, so that it can be used later to generate File Screening
Audit reports.

Managing Storage Resources on a Remote Computer

To manage storage resources on a remote computer, you can connect to the computer from File
Server Resource Manager. While you are connected, File Server Resource Manager will display the
objects created on the remote computer, allowing you to manage them in the same way that you can
manage resources on your local computer.

To manage remote storage resources with File Server Resource Manager:

 The remote computer must be running Windows Server 2008 with File Server Resource
Manager installed.
 Enable the Remote File Server Resource Manager Management exception on the
remote computer. This exception can be enabled by using Windows Firewall in Control Panel.
 You must be logged on to the local computer with an account that is a member of the

Administrators group on the remote computer.

Important

To manage storage resources on a remote computer, the stand-alone File Server Resource
Manager snap-in must be used, instead of the Server Manager snap-in. The stand-alone snap-in is
available in Administrative Tools.
To connect to a remote computer from File Server Resource Manager
1. In Administrative Tools, click File Server Resource Manager.

2. In the console tree, right-click File Server Resource Manager, and then click Connect to
Another Computer.

3. In the dialog box that opens, click Another computer, and then type the name or browse to
the server that you want to connect to.

4. Click OK to start the connection.

Using Command-Line Tools for File Server Resource Manager

If you prefer to work from the command line, you can use the following tools:

 Dirquota.exe. Use to create and manage quotas, auto apply quotas, and quota templates.

 Filescrn.exe. Use to create and manage file screens, file screen exceptions, file screen
templates, and file groups.
 Storrept.exe. Use to configure report parameters and generate storage reports on demand.
You can also create report tasks and then use Schtasks.exe to schedule the tasks.

The tools are added to the system path when you install File Server Resource Manager, and they must
be run from an Administrator Command Prompt window.
For more information about these command-line tools, see the following references:

 Dirquota: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=92741

 Filescrn: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=92742
 Storrept: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=92743

Each tool has several options for performing actions similar to those that are available in the File
Server Resource Manager MMC snap-in, and each can perform actions on either a local computer or a
remote computer. To have a command perform an action on a remote computer instead of the local
computer, use the /remote:ComputerName parameter. (Additional requirements for managing
remote storage resources are listed in Managing Storage Resources on a Remote Computer earlier in
this guide.)