topic Windows Explorer Behavior with ~Snapshot directory hidden at share level in ONTAP Discussions

Windows Explorer Behavior with ~Snapshot directory hidden at share level

darraghos — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 13:42:03 GMT

Hi guys. I have a fleet of windows 7 machines using CIFS shares on C-Mode over SMBv2 with SMB signing. I have snapdir enabled at volume level and disabled at share level. This should allow me manually browse the ~snapshot directory by entering a full path. This does not work though if in windows explorer I enter the full path in the address bar. It works from other entry points though for example (UAC enabled and at defaults on machine):

Direct path is \\10.201.2.56\vol_1\~snapshot\ in my lab

dir command run non-elevated works
dir command run elevated works
type path into run dialog in start menu works
type path in windows explorer address bar does not work and yeilds

I have disbaled UAC and issue perists. No GPO being applied here. Anyone come accross this before?

Re: Windows Explorer Behavior with ~Snapshot directory hidden at share level

JGPSHNTAP — Fri, 18 May 2018 10:39:58 GMT

Can you show this command

vol show -vol nameof vol -vserver nameofvserver -fields snapdir-access

also, show this

cifs share properties show -vserver nameofvserver -share-name nameofshare

Here is associated KB - https://kb.netapp.com/app/answers/answer_view/a_id/1000475

namefoshare should be your volume admin share.

Browse your admin volume share, and go to previous versions to see if you see snaps

Re: Windows Explorer Behavior with ~Snapshot directory hidden at share level

darraghos — Fri, 18 May 2018 12:52:03 GMT

Hi, bare in mind that this is not usage of 'previous versions' per say as I have not turned that on:

Volume snaps are visible:

lab-clucmode-01::> vol show -volume vol_1 -vserver SVM_001 -fields snapdir-access

vserver volume snapdir-access

------- ------ --------------

SVM_001 vol_1 true

Share Level snap directory not visible:

lab-clucmode-01::> cifs share properties show -vserver SVM_001 -share-name vol_1

Vserver: SVM_001
Share: vol_1
Share Properties: oplocks browsable

Re: Windows Explorer Behavior with ~Snapshot directory hidden at share level

JGPSHNTAP — Fri, 18 May 2018 12:59:37 GMT

Add the following share properties and see if this fixes it

showsnapshot - This property specifies that Snapshot copies can be viewed and traversed by clients.

Re: Windows Explorer Behavior with ~Snapshot directory hidden at share level

darraghos — Fri, 18 May 2018 13:21:26 GMT

Thanks for the replies but I think you are missing my point. I can access the ~snapshot folder without issue in 3 out of 4 ways. I don't want it to be displayed by default in the share root when browsing but have the option to manually browse it if required. As far as I can see it, enabled snapshot visibility at the share level simply allows for the ~snapshot folder to be seems in windows explorer by default if 'show hidden files' is enabled in windows.