Here is the process to restore a deleted DFS Namespace Link
You need to know the DFS Link from ADSIEdit before restoring:
- Open ADSIEDit and browse to:
Domain | CN=System | CN=Dfs-Configuration | CN=DFS name - Once in this folder you will see all the DFS Links, and deletedlinks
eg: CN=link-2055b608-c642-47c6-a2ad-f15f0aa70aab
Notes - when a namespace is deleted in DFS the following is created "CN=deletedlink-2055b608-c642-47c6-a2ad-f15f0aa70aab" - Because the namespace has been deleted you are going to need to look at the properties of the Deletedlinks. Right Click Properties and look at the following attribute - msDFS-LinkPathv2. You will need to do this until you find the namespace that was deleted
As example "CN=deletedlink-2055b608-c642-47c6-a2ad-f15f0aa70aab" contains the namespace. When you do the restore you are going to choose "CN=link-2055b608-c642-47c6-a2ad-f15f0aa70aab" - Open the Online Restore Wizard
- Select Compare, restore, and report changes in Active Directory and click Next
- Select the domain and click Next
- Select the backup to use and click Next
- Select the path for the unpacked backups and click Next
- Click Next once the backup has been extracted
- Uncheck Use agentless method to access domain controller and click Next
- Click Add | Browse
- Check Show advanced objects
- Expand System | Dfs-Configuration
- Select the Dfs object to restore and click OK
Remember you are not selecting to restore the DeletedLink but the original:
eg CN=link-2055b608-c642-47c6-a2ad-f15f0aa70aab - Complete the rest of the Online Restore wizard to restore the AD Object
The DFS namespace will now appear again automatically the next time you open the DFS console.