Unable to Create Shares in Manage Console (199031)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server 4.0
  • Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server 4.0a

This article was previously published under Q199031

SYMPTOMS

An informational dialog box is displayed when trying to create a share using the Small Business Server (SBS) Console for a share name greater than 12 characters in length:

The share name name is too long. It will not be accessible from all MS-DOS workstations. Please enter a share name that contains 12 or fewer characters.

CAUSE

MS-DOS and Windows 9x clients cannot connect to shares that are greater than 12 characters in length. The SBS Console was designed to support this functionality.

RESOLUTION

If you want to create a share name greater than 12 characters in length, use Explorer.

By default, the SBS Installation utility and the Manage Server Console create a shared folder for each user entered into the system through the console. The share name is the same as the Windows NT user name. The Administrator account is shared with a share name of Administrator. This share name is greater than 12 characters. If you use the Console or Explorer to remove this share and then, at a later time, try to use the Console to share this folder with the default share name, you will get the error above. (The Administrator share name must exist or other errors will appear during Console operations).

You can create accounts by using the console where the Windows NT account name is greater than 12 characters. The console will create those share names correctly. If they are ever unshared, they will have to be reshared through Explorer.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/3/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB199031