Microsoft KB Archive/326070

= Client Cannot Access Dfs Link Target If Share and Fault Tolerant Dfs Root Names Differ =

Article ID: 326070

Article Last Modified on 8/14/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 95

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This article was previously published under Q326070



SYMPTOMS
The Directory Service Client for Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows 98 Second Edition may not be able to connect to a Distributed File System (Dfs) link. This problem may occur if the link is hosted on a fault tolerant root (FT root) replica whose Dfs name is different from the host share name. This includes share names that are exactly the same as the root name, but are hidden (with a '$' character appended). For error message details, see the &quot;More Information&quot; section of this article.

For example, the DS Client cannot connect to a Dfs path in an FT root configuration such as the following (notice the FT root name and host share values):

FT Root name:    \\domainname\ftroot FT Root Replica: \\replicaserver\sharename DFS Link name:     linkname DFS Path:        \\domainname\ftroot\linkname Link Target:     \\server\sharename

The following configuration works properly; notice the FT root name and host share values:

FT Root name:    \\domainname\ftroot FT Root Replica: \\replicaserver\ftroot DFS Link name:     linkname DFS Path:        \\domainname\ftroot\linkname Link Target:     \\server\sharename

Dfs stand-alone root names always match the underlying host server share name.



CAUSE
This is a limitation of the Windows 95 and Windows 98 DS Client, and does not apply to the Microsoft Windows NT DS Client, Microsoft Windows 2000, or Microsoft Windows XP.



RESOLUTION
This behavior is by design.



WORKAROUND
When you create a domain Dfs root (FT root) or add a root replica to an existing FT Root, allow the Dfs root name to remain the same as the selected share name.

For existing FT roots, delete the root replicas that have mismatched share names (or root, if only one replica exists). Create them again, by using the share name.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.



MORE INFORMATION
If you click Run on the Start menu, and then type a link path of the form \\domainname\ftroot\linkname, you receive the following error message:

Cannot find the file '\\domainname\ftroot\linkname' (or one of its

components. Make sure the path and file name are correct and that all

required libraries are available.

If you try to map a drive to \\domainname\ftroot\linkname by using Network Neighborhood, you receive the following error message:

Drive: is not accessible.

File system error (13545).

If you try to map a drive to \\domainname\ftroot\linkname at a command prompt, you receive the following error message:

Error 50: You attempted an operation that cannot be performed from your computer or that is not supported on the specified server. Make sure you are using the correct server for the command or task that you want to perform. If the problem persists, contact your network administrator.

Additional query words: 9xdsclient dsclient

Keywords: kbprb kbqfe KB326070

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