Wednesday, October 12, 2016

File Server Resource Manager (FSRM) – Part 2: Initial Configuration

In Part 2 of my FRSM series, I’ll cover some initial FSRM setup that you’ll want to perform before using FSRM.


Now that the File Server Resource Manager is installed on the server. There’s some initial configuration that we’ll want to perform first. Moving forward, all of my example screenshots will be from Server 2012. Many of the features in FSRM are the same between Server 2008 R2 and Server 2012; if there are any Server 2012-only new features, I’ll point them out.
First, open the FSRM administrative tool. Right-click on File Server Resource Manager (local) and then Configure Options…

FSRM Configuration
FSRM Configuration
The first tab you’ll be presented with is the Email Notifications. Here’s where you’ll want to specify your SMTP server and other default email settings. The Default administrator recipients can be used in other areas of FSRM as a variable. If you need to customize who receives which notifications (for example, one person receives quota notices and another receives storage reports), you’ll be able to configure that later.
FSRM Email Notification Configuration
FSRM Email Notification Configuration
The Notification Limits tab allows you to limit how often notifications are generated. Typically, the defaults have worked well for me personally, but your mileage may vary.
FSRM Notification Limits
FSRM Notification Limits
The Storage Reports tab allows you to customize default parameters on the various storage reports FSRM generates. These defaults can be overridden, but let you set baselines or defaults so you don’t have to constantly change your parameters if you’re using the same thing over and over. Typically, I don’t make changes here until I’ve been able to baseline a particular file server.
FSRM Storage Reports
FRSM Storage Reports
The Report Locations tab, as the name implies, lets you change where reports generated by FSRM are stored. The default of storing them on the C:\ drive doesn’t usually work for me. Typically, I like to store them in a folder on another drive that I can share out to other IT admins so we can easily access the reports over the network.
FSRM Report Locations
FSRM Report Locations
The File Screen Audit tab lets you enable storing of file screening activity in an auditing database. Personally, I’ve never had much use for this feature. However, depending on your environment, this could be very valuable to enable if you need to track files that are being blocked form your file server.
FSRM File Screen Audit
FSRM File Screen Audit
The Automatic Classification tab allows you to set a schedule for your file classifications to run. If you’re planning on using this feature, you’ll need to visit this tab at some point to set up a schedule.
FRSM Automatic Classification
FRSM Automatic Classification
Access-Denied Assistance is a new Windows Server 2012 feature. Clients accessing the file server can receive customized pop-up messages to help them when they receive “access denied” messages. This feature also requires that the clients are running Windows 8.
FSRM Access-Denied AssistanceFSFRM There's a problem accessing
FSRM Access-Denied Assistance – FSFRM There’s a problem accessing…

File Server Resource Manager (FSRM) – Part 1: Install FRSM

The File Server Resource Manager (FSRM) is a part of the File Services Role in Windows Server that gives you greater control over the data stored on your file servers. In this part, I'll show you how to install the FSRM with both PowerShell and the GUI on Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012.


If you’re running file servers, I highly recommend running FSRM. I’m always surprised at how many people either haven’t heard of FSRM or have never used it and complain about several of the problems it can help you solve. The FSRM gives you greater control over folder quotas, let’s you block file types (file screening), and generate storage reports just to name a few things it can do. So, let’s get started by installing the File Server Resource Manager on a file server.

Install FSRM on Windows Server 2012 with PowerShell ^

Installing the FSRM on Server 2012 with the Install-WindowsFeature cmdlet is definitely the fastest way to get up and going. With Administrator rights, run the following PowerShell command and you’re done:

Install FRSM with Powershell on Windows Server 2012

Install FSRM on Server 2008 R2 using PowerShell ^

Installing FSRM on Server 2008 R2 with PowerShell takes slightly more work, but is still much faster than with the GUI. With Administrator rights, run the following PowerShell command:
Import-Module Servermanager

Install FSRM on Windows Server 2008 R2 with PowerShell

Install FSRM on Server 2012 using Server Manager ^

Installing FSRM from the GUI is slightly more involved. First, start off in the Server Manager and go to Manage, then Add Roles and Features.
Install FSRM on Windows Server 2012 using Server Manager
Click through the Before you begin dialog and the installation type since we won’t be setting up Remote Desktop Services.
Install FSRM on Windows Server 2012 using Server Manager 2Install FSRM on Windows Server 2012 using Server Manager 3
Depending on how many servers you are managing in your Server Manager, you may see multiple servers. Select your file server and click Next.
Install FSRM on Windows Server 2012 using Server Manager 4
When you get to the Select server roles screen, scroll down to the File And Storage Services area and check File Server Resource Manager. When you do this, you’ll be prompted to add additional features that are necessary for the FSRM… namely the File Server role and the management tools (which you’ll definitely need if they’re not already installed). After clicking Add Features, you’ll be taken back to the Select server rolls screen and you should see that File Server and File Server Resource Manager are both checked now. Click Next to move on.
Install FSRM on Windows Server 2012 using Server Manager 5Install FSRM on Windows Server 2012 using Server Manager 6Install FSRM on Windows Server 2012 using Server Manager 7
On the Select features screen, there is nothing to change. However, if you scroll down, you should see that the File Services Tools option has been checked under Remote Server Administration Tools, Role Administration Tools. Click Next to move on.
Install FSRM on Windows Server 2012 using Server Manager 8
On the Confirmation installation selections screen, you can click Install. Now you can sit back and wait for FSRM to install.
Install FSRM on Windows Server 2012 using Server Manager 9Install FSRM on Windows Server 2012 using Server Manager 10Install FSRM on Windows Server 2012 using Server Manager 11Install FSRM on Windows Server 2012 using Server Manager 12
If you were installing directly on the server console, the File Server Resource Manager administrative tool should now be on the Start screen.
FRSM on the Windows Server 2012 Start Screen

Install FSRM on Server 2008 R2 using Server Manager ^

To install the File Server Resource Manager in Windows Server 2008 R2, click on Roles in the Server Manager and then click on Add Roles. Click through the Before You Begin dialog.
Install FSRM on Windows Server 2008 R2 using Server ManagerInstall FSRM on Windows Server 2008 R2 using Server Manager 2
In the Server Roles screen, click File Services and then Next.
Install FSRM on Windows Server 2008 R2 using Server Manager 3
In the File Services screen, click Next. In the ‘Role Services’ screen that comes up next, you’ll want to check File Server Resource Manager and then click Next. For now, we’ll skip configuring FRSM and click Next to bypass Configure Storage Usage Monitoring.
Install FSRM on Windows Server 2008 R2 using Server Manager 4Install FSRM on Windows Server 2008 R2 using Server Manager 5Install FSRM on Windows Server 2008 R2 using Server Manager 6
On the Confirm Installation Selections, click Install and wait for the installation to finish.
Install FSRM on Windows Server 2008 R2 using Server Manager 7Install FSRM on Windows Server 2008 R2 using Server Manager 8Install FSRM on Windows Server 2008 R2 using Server Manager 9
The File Server Resource Manager administrative tool should now be available on the Start menu.

FRSM in Windows Sever 2008 R2 Start Menu