error: directory has been deleted on a remote device but is not empty; the contents are probably ignored on that remote device, but not locally” log.pkg=model) (Truenas / Windows)

[stuser949]

Hello,

Deleting/cutting backed-up group policies from group policy management results in some or all files to re-appear within ~10-60 seconds usually. Occurs on Windows server 2025 or Windows 11

I backup my group policies from group policy management in Windows Server 2025. It will backup and sync fine to both truenas servers.

I don’t remember having this issue until maybe a month ago or so. It happens every time. I haven’t really noticed it when doing my every day activities. For example, I tested copying hundreds of photos to a new folder and deleting them and they don’t re-appear.

Note, I re-made this post I made 14 days ago as it was suggested I clean up my post and make some other changes.

I attached logs from both servers when I was testing.

Environment:

Windows Server 2025

Windows 11

1x barbone truenas with syncthing installed

1x proxmox vm truenas with syncthing installed

Thank you

truenas.log.1.txt (294.0 KB)

other.truenas.log.1.txt (266.2 KB)

[stuser949]

also, second round of deleting the “re-appearing” files seems to do the job permanently

[tomasz86 (Tomasz Wilczyński)]

Can you provide a more detailed explanation on the group policy backup process, and how it is supposed to integrate with Syncthing? Ideally, it would be useful to see a step-by-step guide on how to reproduce the problem.

Some screenshots of the Syncthing web GUI with the problematic folder states visible could be useful as well.

[stuser949]

Hi Thomas,

Here is step-by-step and screenshots. Thank you for your patience. Also, I have a windows environment and all data for them is stored on truenas servers, even desktops. I have two truenas servers and they are designed to be exact duplicates of each other for redundancy in both data and when one server may go down. I hope it is more clear now and please ask me anything else you need (it only me upload 5 images due to new user)

1. Login to windows domain controller /Windows server computer

   Creating the folder to backup the group policies to:

2. Create a folder called “New folder” at: \truenas02\domain_user_profiles\username\home\Downloads

   This also creates a folder called “New folder” at: \truenas01\domain_user_profiles\username\home\Downloads because of how syncthing is setup on both truenas servers

   Backing up the group policies:

3. Open Group Policy Management

4. Open the tree and right-click on: Group Policy Objects

5. Select “Back Up All…”

6. Select the location of where you want to backup the group policies. In this case: \truenas02\domain_user_profiles\username\home\Downloads

7. Let the backup process finish (total of 54 group policies were backed up)

   

8. Syncthing syncs the backed up group policies to the truenas01 server at location: \truenas01\domain_user_profiles\username\home\Downloads\New folder

   Testing the issue:

9. Navigate to location: \truenas01\domain_user_profiles\username\home\Downloads\New folder or \truenas02\domain_user_profiles\username\home\Downloads\New folder

10. delete all the folder or cut/paste them to a new location. In this example I deleted the folders on truenas02 server

11. wait maybe 10 seconds for syncthing to sync the deleted folders to truenas01 server

12. truenas01 server starts to delete folders because of syncthing setup but stops at 28 folders (there was originally a total of 54 folders)

13. Those 28 folders that did not get deleted on truenas01 server some how get re-synched back to Truenas02 server

14. I delete the remaining 28 folders one more time and the folders get deleted permanently and do not re-appear.