UNC file paths on a Mac? Huh?

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UNC file paths on a Mac? Huh?

Can native UNC file paths be used by the Mac OS? For example, if your have a UNC file path formatted as "\\ServerName\VolumeName\FolderName\FileName" can the Mac access that folder? We are trying to come up with a file path format that will work for both Macs and Windows PCs. These file paths will be stored in a common database and utilized by both systems to access common files. Does the Mac always need the SMB: protocol at the start of the path for Samba? The PC does not know what to do with the SMB it seems, but it handles the UNC format just fine.

Posted on Jul 11, 2008 1:08 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 11, 2008 6:00 PM in response to Scott Maiden

Hi

A mac can access a directory/folder/file if the path is specified as such in Windows. It's used all the time in AD-OD integration where an AD sharepoint used for home folder creation is specified as such.

As far as I know you can't specify a UNC path in UNIX. See:

http://www.velocityreviews.com/forums/t143559-unc-path-files-from-unix.html

Tony

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Answer 2

Jul 11, 2008 6:05 PM in response to Scott Maiden

Hi

"Does the Mac always need the SMB: protocol at the start of the path for Samba? The PC does not know what to do with the SMB it seems, but it handles the UNC format just fine".

Just realized I had not responded to this bit.

If you don't specify smb://pathtowherever then the mac will default to afp://pathtowherever. I think the same should apply if you tried to use the server's FQDN.

Tony

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