Issue description   

When a Distributed File System (DFS) Namespace is deleted using the DFS Management snap-in, the corresponding metadata in Active Directory (AD) may not always be cleaned up automatically. This can lead to stale Namespace entries remaining in the DFS configuration, potentially causing confusion or errors in DFS operations.

Possible causes   

1. DFS metadata not updated: Deletion from the DFS Management console does not always remove all related metadata from AD.

2. Replication delay or failure: AD replication issues may prevent timely removal of DFS Namespace objects.

3. Insufficient permissions: The account used to perform the deletion may lack rights to modify or remove DFS objects in AD.

4. Corrupted DFS configuration: Inconsistent or orphaned entries in DFS metadata could result from previous failed deletions or upgrades.

Prerequisites   

• Ensure you have Domain Administrator or equivalent permissions to modify objects in Active Directory.

• ADSI Edit (ADSIedit.msc) must be available on your system.

• Backup your AD or export DFS settings before performing manual deletions.

• Understand your DFS topology to avoid deleting the wrong Namespace entry.

Resolution   

1. Press Win + R, then type "adsiedit.msc" and press Enter.

2. In the ADSI Edit console, right-click ADSI Edit and select Connect to.

3. Under Connection Point, select Default Naming Context, then click OK.

4. Expand the following node:

• CN=Dfs-Configuration, CN=System, DC=<domain_Name>, DC=<extension>

• Replace <domain_Name> and <extension> with your actual domain details.

5. Locate the DFS Namespace object that was previously deleted using the DFS Management snap-in.

6. Right-click the Namespace and select Delete.

7. Confirm the deletion to remove it from AD metadata.

Tips   

• Give AD sufficient time to replicate changes across all domain controllers.

• Confirm that DFS deletions are applied consistently in both the user interface and underlying metadata.

• If discrepancies remain, use tools like dfsrdiag and dfsutil to perform deeper diagnostics.

How to reach support   

If the issue persists, contact our support team here.