topic Re: Is there a work-around to access the ~snapshot directory from Windows clients using SMB 2.x in ONTAP Discussions

Is there a work-around to access the ~snapshot directory from Windows clients using SMB 2.x

richard_mackerras — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:43:27 GMT

From SMB2.0 it is only possible to access the ~snapshot folder from an ONTAP junction point. In SMB1 the ~snapshot tree could be entered at any folder. This is described here:

https://library.netapp.com/ecmdocs/ECMP1196891/html/GUID-6D832809-1E60-4041-BF08-D390CB6B3D89.html

I have found that if I take a UNC, append \~snapshot to it and map that to a drive letter it works but has anyone got a more elegant solution? Is there a freeware tool that will give access to the ~snapshot tree at an arbitrary place in the hierarchy?

I don't want to subvert security.

Thank you

Re: Is there a work-around to access the ~snapshot directory from Windows clients using SMB 2.x

aladd — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 04:58:08 GMT

What is the end goal of accessing or mounting directly the ~snapshot directory? Perhaps there is a better option for what your business need is for this.

Re: Is there a work-around to access the ~snapshot directory from Windows clients using SMB 2.x

richard_mackerras — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 18:24:20 GMT

Hi,I have been asked about providing users with direct access to recover their own files. If a folder is moved or removed then "Previous Versions" doesn't work.

Ordinary users might not be able to reach the junction point for some of the shares they use. They access shares via DFS.

Is there a better option?

Re: Is there a work-around to access the ~snapshot directory from Windows clients using SMB 2.x

GidonMarcus — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 21:04:27 GMT

<Deleted> - sorry, have misread your response.

Re: Is there a work-around to access the ~snapshot directory from Windows clients using SMB 2.x

aladd — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 03:32:52 GMT

Depending on the version of ONTAP, you can check the CIFS share configuration on the SVM.

::> vserver cifs share properties show -vserver <vserver name>

There is an available option for CIFS share properties to allow previous versions in a share.

show-previous-versions

If the option is not present in the vserver you can set it using the following command.

::> vserver cifs share properties add -vserver <vserver name> -share-name <name of share> -share-properties show-previous-versions

Ref: https://kb.netapp.com/Advice_and_Troubleshooting/Data_Storage_Software/ONTAP_OS/Previous_versions_are_unavailable_after_upgrade_from_Clustered_Data_ONTAP_8_to_ONTAP_9

Re: Is there a work-around to access the ~snapshot directory from Windows clients using SMB 2.x

Mjizzini — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 08:53:00 GMT

CIFS clients cannot access the snapshot directory in ONTAP 9

https://community.netapp.com/t5/ONTAP-Discussions/snapshot-directory-not-visible-in-Windows-Explorer-but-it-is-in-Command-Prompt/m-p/144733#M32112