What does the Distributed File System allow on a Windows server?

The Distributed File System (DFS) in a Windows server environment is designed to provide a unified system for accessing file shares that may reside on multiple servers. This functionality is essential for organizations that manage significant amounts of data spread across various locations, enabling users to access files in a seamless manner as if they were on a single server.

DFS allows administrators to create a logical namespace for file sharing, which means that users can access files stored on different servers without needing to know the exact physical location of the files. This enhances user experience, as it simplifies the process of file retrieval and collaboration across various departments and locations.

The other options do represent features or capabilities related to file management or storage, but they do not specifically reflect what DFS is intended for. Direct access to external drives pertains more to physical storage connections rather than the logical organization and access of distributed files. File compression is a separate feature that optimizes disk space but isn’t a function of DFS itself. Increased local storage capacity refers to hardware improvements rather than the data management facilitated by DFS.