File Server Resource Manager

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

Introduced with the Windows Server® 2003 R2 operating system, File Server Resource Manager is a suite of tools in the Windows Server® 2008 operating system that enables administrators to place storage limits on volumes and folders, prevent users from saving specific file types to the server, and generate comprehensive storage reports. File Server Resource Manager not only helps administrators to efficiently control and monitor existing storage resources from a central location, but also aids in the planning and implementation of future changes to the storage infrastructure.

What does File Server Resource Manager do?

With the File Server Resource Manager Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in, you can perform three sets of tasks to manage storage resources on local or remote servers:

• Quota management. Set soft or hard space limits on a volume or folder tree. You can create and apply quota templates with standard quota properties.

• File screening management. Define filtering rules that monitor or block attempts by users to save certain file types on a volume or folder tree. You can create and apply screening templates with standard file exclusions.

• Storage reports management. Generate built-in reports to track quota usage, file screening activity, and patterns of storage use.

You can also apply quota and file screening policies when you provision a shared folder, or through a command-line interface.

Who will be interested in feature?

The following groups will especially benefit from using File Server Resource Manager:

• IT administrators in charge of network storage resources, who want to efficiently distribute these resources by creating quotas

• IT administrators who want to block certain types of files from being stored in network storage resources

• IT administrators who want to generate reports to better understand how server storage resources are being utilized

• User account managers who want to apply storage policies by creating quotas and file screening rules for user folders and shared storage resources

Are there any special considerations?

You must belong to the Administrators group to use File Server Resource Manager.

If you are currently using NTFS disk quotas, you will find greater precision in the quota management tools in File Server Resource Manager, as shown in the following table.

The quotas you create in File Server Resource Manager are entirely separate from any NTFS quotas you might have created—the two systems are not designed to work together. However, to migrate from NTFS quotas, File Server Resource Manager provides quota templates that help you recreate your NTFS quota properties.

If you plan to use File Server Resource Manager to manage storage resources on a remote server, that server must be running Windows Server 2008 with an instance of File Server Resource Manager.

What functionality does this feature provide?

You can use File Server Resource Manager in Windows Server 2008 to perform the following tasks:

• Manage quotas

  • Create, update, and obtain information about quotas, which set a space limit on a volume or folder.

  • When storage reaches predefined levels, send e-mail to a distribution list, log an event, run a command or script, or generate reports.

  • Set a hard quota to prevent users from exceeding a storage limit, or simply monitor storage on a volume or folder.

• Automatically generate quotas. You can configure File Server Resource Manager to apply a specific quota to all existing subfolders and any new subfolders that are created in a volume or folder. For example, you can automatically generate standard quotas for roaming users or new users in your organization.

• Manage file screens

  • Create, update, and obtain information about file screens, which control the type of files that users can save.

  • Define file groups that specify file extensions to include in or exclude from custom filtering.

  • Actively prevent users from saving unauthorized files, or simply record when users save those file types.

  • Create screening exception rules for specific folders.

  • When users attempt to save unauthorized files, trigger e-mail or other notifications.

• Use quota and file screening templates

  • Reuse resource management rules across an organization by applying standard storage limits or file screens to new volumes or folders.

  • Use or modify built-in templates or create new ones to capture your system policies.

  • Manage updates to quotas or file screens from a central location by updating the properties of templates.

• Run storage reports

  • Choose from a large collection of built-in reports, and set report parameters specific to your environment.

  • Schedule periodic reports to identify trends in disk usage or file screening activity.

  • Generate reports instantly, on demand.

• Manage remote resources. You can manage storage resources on a local server or on a remote server running File Server Resource Manager.

• Easily back up and restore settings. File Server Resource Manager configurations are saved in the System Volume Information folder in the server root directory and on any volume where quotas or file screens are applied. To back up and restore File Server Resource Manager configurations, you can use a backup tool such as Windows Server Backup.

Is File Server Resource Manager available in all editions of Windows Server 2008?

File Server Resource Manager is available in all editions of Windows Server 2008. However, it is not available for the Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008.

Additional references

For information about other features in File Services, see the File Services Role topic.