Win 2012/2016 : File Server with File Server Resource Manager (FSRM)

In computing, a file server (or fileserver) is a computer attached to a network that provides a location for shared disk access, i.e. shared storage of computer files (such as text, image, sound, video) that can be accessed by the workstations that are able to reach the computer that shares the access through a computer network. The term server highlights the role of the machine in the client–server scheme, where the clients are the workstations using the storage. It is common that a file server does not perform computational tasks, and does not run programs on behalf of its clients. It is designed primarily to enable the storage and retrieval of data while the computation is carried out by the workstations. - Wikipedia

File Server Resource Manager (FSRM ) is a feature available in windows Server role that helpy administrators classify and manage stored data in the file servers. Basically installing file server is preety straight forward. Either you use Server manager:

Or using PowerShell :

Install-WindowsFeature -Name FS-Resource-Manager, RSAT-FSRM-Mgmt

FS-Resource-Manager installs the FSRM role and RSAT-FSRM-Mgmt installs the GUI components to manage FSRM. You can also install RSAT-FSRM-Mgmt on a some other computer & manage FSRM remotely.

The file Server resource manager (FSRM) can be run directly using fsrm.msc .

FSRM has basically five main features : File Classification Infrastructure - automates the processes behind classification so administrators have a more effective and insightful way to manage data. File Management Tasks - helps administrators apply conditional actions or policies based on how they are classified. File screening management - helps administrators control what kinds of files end users are allowed to store on file servers. Quota management - helps administrators limit how much space can be used for folders and volumes and can also be applied for new folders and volumes. Storage reports - helps administrators identify disk usage trends and how data is classified. - Credit : https://searchwindowsserver.techtarget.com

Quotas management (Quota)

Quota management determines who can save how much data. You can use quota templates or create ones yourself. You can define hard or soft quota type. Hard means , once the limit is reached, user can't save any more data, whereas soft will still allow to save data with warning for the user. You can define the notifcations also.

File Screening Management

If you give chance for the user to save any information, they can come up with any data. It is impossible to tell any user, that he/she can save files with this extension and not with other extensions. To prevent this, specific file extensions can be blocked. Same like Quota Management, you can use here active & passive. Active means user will be directly denied to save files with certain extensions. If it is set to passive, user can save the file but again with warning and notifcations such as e-mail.

You can also configure filegroups to determine which file types belong to the which groups.

Storage Reports Management

Classification management

File management tasks

You would like to move files that are older than 5 years to a special storage area in order to archive them there? Then you are right here.