MACOSX Folder legnth when using Windows 2003

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Elvis - 18 Aug 2006 14:25 GMT

Hi,

I have setup a share on a windows 2003 Server for one of my MACOSX users. I
have enabled the necessary protocols and everything work 100%. The strange
problem has arisen when the MACOSX user can only create filenames with a
maximum character length of 32 characters. They are unable to copy files to
the Windows Server with folder and files that have a character length of
loinger than 32 characters. As I understand it Windows allows 240 charaters
for filelength names. Does any one know why this is happening and a potential
workaround.
Your help is greatly appreciated,

Thanks

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Florian - 22 Aug 2006 14:10 GMT

Hi,

i have the same Problem on my Windows 2003 Server SP1. Al works fine, only
the maximum character length is not enough.

please help us.

Thanks

"Elvis" schrieb:

> Hi,
>
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>
> Thanks

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Florian - 22 Aug 2006 15:18 GMT

Hi,

i have found a Knowledgebase Artikel:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/842355/en-us

There you can see on the chart a maximum of 32 characters. This is a
limitation from Microsoft.

I hope for a ServicePack for this.

sincerely
Florian

"Florian" schrieb:

> Hi,
>
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> >
> > Thanks

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William Smith - 27 Aug 2006 17:25 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> I hope for a ServicePack for this.

Hi Florian!

There will be no service pack for this. This is working as it should.
Here's why:

Windows Server since at least Windows NT 4.0 and possibly before uses
AFP 2.2. AFP is Appletalk Filing Protocol, which is simply the
Macintosh's native file sharing protocol. Mac OS 9 clients and earlier
use the same version of AFP.

When Mac OS X was introduced, AFP was upgraded to 3.0. It is now at 3.2
for Tiger. This version of AFP supports file names up to about 255
characters, which is what you're expecting. Windows file sharing (also
known as CIFS or SMB) supports the longer file names as well.

Since Windows Server has not updated AFP for Windows NT 4.0, Windows
2000 Server and Windows Server 2003, the likelihood of them doing so at
all is next to none. And I would include Longhorn Server in this as well
based on this reasoning.

What you need is a better AFP server to install on your Windows Server.
I suggest Group Logic's ExtremeZ-IP <http://www.grouplogic.com>. It not
only supports the longer file names but also supports other modern
features such as Access Control Lists (ACLs), which were introduced in
Mac OS X 10.4.

Alternatively, you can get a better SMB client for your Macs and use the
server's Windows file sharing instead. (I don't suggest using Mac OS X's
built in SMB if you'll be using it a lot.) An application named Dave
from Thursby <http://www.thursby.com> does a great job.

Hope this helps! bill

Signature

William M. Smith
(Microsoft Interop MVP - Mac/Windows)

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Mac Forum / Applications / Other MS Products / August 2006

MACOSX Folder legnth when using Windows 2003