topic Using Test-Path to check files on filer in Microsoft Virtualization Discussions

Using Test-Path to check files on filer

drwoodberry — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:01:19 GMT

Does anyone know a way to use Test-path to see if a file lives on the filer? I think I someone need to use Read-NaFile, but I cannot quite figure it out. If the file is not there when reading, it throws an error. I would like to surpress the error, but set a variable to false.

Any help would be great.

Thanks in advance.

Re: Using Test-Path to check files on filer

cknight — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:14:29 GMT

You can use Read-NaFile in a try/catch block to see if a file exists:

PS C:\> try { Read-NaFile /vol/vol0/etc/host -Length 1 -Offset 0 } catch { Write-Host "Not found" }
Not found

Using Test-Path would require a PowerShell provider, which isn't included in Toolkit 1.2.

Re: Using Test-Path to check files on filer

drwoodberry — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:38:14 GMT

I guess that is something I would like to see in the toolkit then.

That process is not quite working for me. If the file is there, I would like to set a variable to true, otherwise to false. I tried it like this:

try{Read-NaFile /vol/vol0/etc/info}

catch{$configured = $false}

No matter what, I get $configured as false when this runs. Maybe I missed something, but I thought that if an exception was thrown, it only then did what was in the catch.

Re: Using Test-Path to check files on filer

cknight — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:15:39 GMT

You still have to set the variable to true if the file is present. This works for me:

PS C:\> try { Read-NaFile /vol/vol0/etc/hosts -Length 1 -Offset 0 | Out-Null; $configured = $true } catch { $configured = $false }

Re: Using Test-Path to check files on filer

drwoodberry — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:38:05 GMT

Thanks so much. When I used your first solution to and checked the value of configured it always returned false, but the program ran correctly. I am going to test your second solution shortly as well. Thanks so much for all your help.

Re: Using Test-Path to check files on filer

paleon — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:50:45 GMT

You can use Test-Path if you access the NetApp via CIFS. Below is some code to test for the existence of the file...

# use the net.exe application to connect to \\filer\c$ using specified credentials

C:\Windows\System32\net.exe use \\filer\c$ /user:domain\username password

#test for existence of the hosts file on the NetApp

$result = Test-Path \\filer\c$\etc\hosts

Re: Using Test-Path to check files on filer

cknight — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 22:11:53 GMT

Using Test-Path would require a PowerShell provider, which isn't included in Toolkit 1.2.

But Toolkit 1.3 does include a PowerShell provider!

Try this:

PS C:\> Connect-NaController <name>

PS C:\> Mount-NaController

PS C:\> Test-Path <name>:/etc/host

False

PS C:\> Test-Path <name>:/etc/hosts

True

Re: Using Test-Path to check files on filer

drwoodberry — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:55:04 GMT

I did not see tool kit 1.3. Is the available to the general public. I like the try catch method, but this mount cmdlet is nice. I have used the try,catch for other error checking and has proven invaluable.

Re: Using Test-Path to check files on filer

cknight — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:46:47 GMT

Yes, Toolkit 1.3 is available on the downloads page; it merely replaces the older zip file. You must be logged into the community with a NOW login ID to see that.