topic Re: Anyway to use 'Read-NaDirectory' recursively ? in Microsoft Virtualization Discussions

Anyway to use 'Read-NaDirectory' recursively ?

Bill_Freed — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:21:38 GMT

I am trying to write a PowerShell script to return the size of a directory which includes all files and subfolder (recursive).

The native PowerShell CmdLet 'Get-Childitem' has an optional parameter called -Recurse which does this for me.

Is there a similar function (or a different CmdLet) to let me do this or do I have to write my own routine to do this (which I believe will be a lot slower)?

If there is now way to do this with the current CmdLet, can I submit a feature request for a future update to the toolkit?

Thanks very much,

- Bill

Re: Anyway to use 'Read-NaDirectory' recursively ?

cknight — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 20:36:53 GMT

Hi, Bill. You may be able to use the PS Provider in the Toolkit to recurse, but it uses Read-NaDirectory (which isn't recursive) underneath, so it may be simpler to code but probably won't be any faster.

PS C:\> Connect-NaController dunn

Name Address Ontapi Version

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

dunn 10.61.167.60 1.14 NetApp Release 7.3.5: Mon Nov 22 21:32:44 PST 2010

PS C:\> Mount-NaController

Name Used (GB) Free (GB) Provider Root

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

dunn DataONTAP /

PS C:\> cd dunn:

PS dunn:\> dir /etc -Recurse

Name Type Size Created Modified Owner Group Perm Empty

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

. directory 12 KB 8/12/2008 8/3/2012 0 0 1070 False

.. directory 4 KB 8/12/2008 2/2/2012 0 0 1077 False

.avail file 904 B 8/13/2008 8/3/2012 0 0 1070

.zapi directory 4 KB 8/13/2008 8/3/2012 0 0 1070 False

acpp_fw directory 4 KB 2/11/2010 2/14/2011 0 0 700 False

asup_content.conf file 17 KB 2/14/2011 2/14/2011 0 0 1070

asuptriggers.sample file 6 KB 2/14/2011 2/14/2011 0 0 1070

boot directory 4 KB 8/13/2008 2/14/2011 0 0 700 False

cifs_homedir.bak file 810 B 4/5/2010 4/5/2010 0 0 1070

cifs_homedir.cfg file 827 B 4/5/2010 4/5/2010 0 0 1070

cifs_nbalias.bak file 600 B 4/5/2010 4/5/2010 0 0 1070

Re: Anyway to use 'Read-NaDirectory' recursively ?

Bill_Freed — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 22:30:51 GMT

Wow! Thanks for the quick reply!

I had already written a vbScript to do this but it has two major problems. It is very slow (we have a lot of files/folders to traverse). It constantly produces errors due to Windows File System length limitations. These results in an inaccurate file size total.

I was hoping to use the NetApp APIs to circumvent both of these issues.

Even when I manually recurse using the Read-NaDirectory CmdLet, it is very slow.

Do you think this could be an enhancement for a future release of the OnTap PS Toolkit?

Re: Anyway to use 'Read-NaDirectory' recursively ?

cknight — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 23:03:32 GMT

The API that Read-NaDirectory uses doesn't support recursion, so making the cmdlet do that won't speed things up. As I mentioned, the provider can support recursion. Please note that the file APIs are many times slower than normal in-band I/O like CIFS or iSCSI, so you're probably better off using standard Windows file APIs to traverse the directory structure if you can make those work for you.

Re: Anyway to use 'Read-NaDirectory' recursively ?

Bill_Freed — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 23:41:42 GMT

Ok, I understand. I guess I'll have to keep using my current vbScript which uses CIFS to access the data.

I was hoping that there would be something with OnTap/WAFL that could use the processor of the filer to do the calculation but I guess it is not in the design.

Thanks again for such a quick response to my inquiry. I really appreciate your time and I love the toolkit.