You cannot create DFS links that point to a folder that is under a volume mount point in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (867712)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition (32-Bit x86)

SYMPTOMS

When you try to create a Microsoft Distributed File System (DFS) link, and the link name points to a folder that is under a volume mount point, you receive an error message that is similar to the following:
The following error occurred while creating the DFS Link: The specified path is invalid.

Additionally, events that are similar to the following may be logged in the system event log:Event Type: Error Event
Source: DfsSvc
Event Category: None
Event ID: 14503
Date: Date Time: Time
User: N/A
Computer: Computer_Name
Description: Dfs could not create reparse point for share Path_Name mapped to directory \??\Drive_Name\Folder_Name. The return code is in the record data. Data: 0000: 000000a1

CAUSE

This problem occurs because Windows Server 2003 does not support creating DFS links from folders that are under a volume mount.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods:
  • Attach two disks together by using spanned volumes instead of using volume mount points.

    For additional information about managing disks and volumes in Windows Server 2003, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    323442 How to use the Disk Management snap-in to manage basic and dynamic disks in Windows Server 2003

  • If you are running Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, you can use multiple DFS roots to link to each other. For example, if you have a volume D and a volume E, you can mount each as a DFS root. Then, you can create DFS links from folders on volume D that point to folders on volume E.

Steps to reproduce the problem

Note You must have two computers to follow these steps.
  1. On a Windows Server 2003-based computer, create a folder structure that is similar to the following:

    C:\Data\F1

  2. Open Disk Manager, and then mount a hard disk in the C:\Data\F1 folder.
  3. In the DFS snap-in, create a stand-alone DFS root. Set the root folder as C:\Data and use the following parameters:

    Server Name = Your_Server_Name
    Root Name = Data Folder to Share = C:\Data

  4. Try to create a DFS link from the DFS root that you created. Use the following parameters:

    Link Name = F1
    Path of target = \\Your_Second_Computer_Name\Data2

Expected result: The DFS link is created.
Actual result: You receive the error message that is mentioned in the Symptoms section.

REFERENCES

For more information about DFS, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsServer2003/technologies/fileandprint/file/dfs/default.mspx

For additional information about mounting disks as volumes in Windows Server 2003, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

323424 How to mount a volume at an NTFS folder in Windows Server 2003

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/2/2006
Keywords:kbwinservnetwork kbFilePrintservices kbprb KB867712 kbAudITPRO
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