Autodesk support for Distributed File System (DFS)

Autodesk Support

Apr 30, 2024

Products and versions covered

Issue:

Are Autodesk products supported with the Windows Distributed File System (DFS) in network environments, along with mirrored servers?

Causes:

DFS allows system administrators to make it easier for users to access and manage files that are physically distributed across a network. With DFS, it is possible to distribute files across multiple servers and appear to users as if they reside in one place on the network. It is no longer required to know and specify the actual physical location of files to access them. Mirrored servers allow real-time duplication of files across multiple servers.

Solution:

Autodesk has not tested these features and they are therefore not supported. This includes the use of DFS to store data (drawing and reference) files, as well as administrative images and deployments.

Field reports suggest that the use of DFS resources with AutoCAD can result in program instability, including abnormal program termination, hung sessions, incorrect file versions, and missing/deleted files.