Todd,
Directories are converted to CIFS format the first time they are accessed from CIFS. There is no real need to preconvert any directory, but it doesn't hurt.
Since snapshots are read-only, directories in snapshots cannot be converted. Access from CIFS to an unconverted directory in a snapshot will get an access denied error, as you have noticed.
If NFS creates a directory and it is not accessed by CIFS before the nightly snapshot, that directory is unconverted in the snapshot and will not be accessible from CIFS.
The is no "inheritance" of directory type. Directories are always created in non-CIFS format, independent of the type the parent directory.
In current releases there is no way force creation of CIFS format directories.
In 5.3, there will be an option to force creation of CIFS format directories. There will also be an option to convert a directory to CIFS format even when accessed by NFS.
Joan Pearson
From: "Mark Muhlestein" mmm@netapp.com To: "Joan Pearson" jpearson@netapp.com Subject: Fw: CIFS directory conversion of NFS created files Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 12:32:20 -0800 X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3155.0
-----Original Message----- From: Todd C. Merrill tmerrill@mathworks.com To: toasters@mathworks.com toasters@mathworks.com Date: Wednesday, March 17, 1999 10:26 AM Subject: CIFS directory conversion of NFS created files
This from the docs for ontap 5.2.1:
file://....5_2_1-cd/ontap/5_2_1/doc/html/sag/multi5.htm#1180418
Timing of directory conversion for CIFS access to NFS-created files
[...]
One-time access conversion
If you add CIFS access to files that were created by NFS clients, the first time a directory is accessed through CIFS, the filer automatically converts it to the format required to support CIFS clients. "Accessed" here includes listing the contents of a directory; for example, with the File Manager, Explorer, or DOS dir command, or by accessing any files or directories contained in that directory.
Under some circumstances, the CIFS client might automatically look at the directory's subdirectories, thereby triggering conversion of the subdirectories as well. (For example, this happens if the user has set the Expand All option under the File Manager Tree menu.)
After a directory is converted, it does not have to be converted again.
Here's my question(s):
I have a directory on the filer root (at the level of etc) called "devel." Under that is a tree called "tree." A CIFS share is defined on "tree." Under "tree" is a bunch of other directories:
devel/tree/{dir1,dir2,dir3,...dirN}
When I first got the filer, I did a right-click:properties from an NT box on all directories dir1,dir2,...dirN in order to force the conversion process recursively. Things have been running smoothly.
Until yesterday. The darn "access is denied" error message on the NT box is showing up again under the nightly snapshot for this tree on some directories. I suspect the directories are new, but have been renamed to previously named directories. (I.e., `mkdir new; mv dir old; mv new dir; rm -rf old` might have happened from an NFS mount).
Question1: If I create a new directory devel/tree/dirnew and put some stuff in it, and no NT box access it before the nightly snapshot, this directory will give an "access denied" message to any NT box trying to access this directory from the snapshot, right? (I believe the answer is "yes" since this seems to jive with empirical data.)
Question2: If I define a share at "devel" and then convert the entire *tree* directory, instead of dir1,dir2,...dirN, will any subsequent directory created under that tree (at the level devel/tree/dirnew) already automatically be converted, since its parent was? (This is kinda like the old SunOS subdirectories inheriting the group (?) owner of the parent.) (I think the answer is no, from FAQ#486).
Question3: If the answer to #2 is no, is there another way to make this happen automagically? It seems reasonable, especially if a share is defined on any directory higher in the tree.
Until next time...
Todd C. Merrill The Mathworks, Inc. 508-647-7792 24 Prime Park Way, Natick, MA 01760-1500 508-647-7012 FAX tmerrill@mathworks.com http://www.mathworks.com