Can a DFS Server be shut down in Windows Server 2012 R2 AD-Integrated DFS?

I am working on an AD-integrated Windows Server 2012 R2 DFS implementation for a client.  All we're using at the moment is DFS-N.  Given that, in Windows Server 2012 R2, the DFS metadata is stored in a BLOB in AD, if the DFS-N servers are shut down, will the namespace continue functioning?  Or, do the DFS-N servers need to continue running after initial configuration to maintain access to the DFS shares?

Thank you.

Ian M. Kahn
Senior IAM  Consultant
InfraScience, LLC