topic Re: How to rename a file from NM SDK API in Software Development Kit (SDK) and API Discussions

How to rename a file from NM SDK API

SPERKMANDL — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:18:30 GMT

Hello all, the file group in Manageability SDK does not allow to rename a file, only directories.

Is there anything I missed about this operation?

Re: How to rename a file from NM SDK API

sens — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:21:47 GMT

Yeah, apparently there is no API to rename a file.

However, you can indirectly achieve the "rename" functionality for file with existing APIs as discussed below:

# Assuming we want to rename file fileA to fileB. Both files are under /vol/myvol/mydir

Step 1: Execute file-get-file-info API for existing file:

<file-get-file-info>

<path>/vol/myvol/mydir/fileA</path>

</file-get-file-info>

Get the value of "file-size" from the API response (say, the obtained value is 14)

Step 2: Read the data from the file:

<file-read-file>

<path>/vol/myvol/mydir/fileA</path>

</file-read-file>

And get the value of "data" from the API response (say, the obtained value is 53756e204175672031322030303a)

Step 3: Write the data into the new non-existing file:

<file-write-file>

<path>/vol/myvol/mydir/fileB</path>

</file-write-file>

Step 4: Finally delete the original file:

<file-delete-file>

<path>/vol/myvol/mydir/fileA</path>

</file-delete-file>

Re: How to rename a file from NM SDK API

SPERKMANDL — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:55:43 GMT

Thanks, but this solution requires a full copy price to pay.

In practice. this is feasible for small files only.

IMHO it doesn't make sense to miss a renaming feature from any file-oriented interface.

Even more strange, there is a directory renaming.

Re: How to rename a file from NM SDK API

sens — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:00:00 GMT

True, this solution can be applied only for the files with size less than 1 MB.

We can file a bug report on Data ONTAP to get this addressed.

Re: How to rename a file from NM SDK API

rle — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 07:01:20 GMT

Hi Renzo,

The file-* APIs were created to manipulate ONTAP system files, which are less that 1M. At the time, there was no need to rename files.

The file-* APIs are NOT a replacement for a general file system calls. Please use NFS or CIFS.

Regards,

- Rick -

Re: How to rename a file from NM SDK API

SPERKMANDL — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 07:45:53 GMT

Hi Rick, this is a surprise. File-* API contains all is needed to manipulate a filesystem, except for file renaming and file locking.

Furthermore I have some doubts concerning performance, being forced to hex encoding (potentially) large binary contents.

I need NetApp to implement a DMS storage subsystem, and I wanted to stay away from OS dependencies (CIFS for Windows clients, NFS for Unix clients).

However it seems I have to redesign the entire stuff.

Re: How to rename a file from NM SDK API

rle — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:43:15 GMT

Hi Renzo -

I can understand your disappointment; however, I think it is better to work on top of well-know, and well tested file systems. As for OS dependencies, NFS works on Windows and UNIX/Linux; and CIFS works on UNIX/Linux via SAMBA.

Regards,

- Rick -

Re: How to rename a file from NM SDK API

SPERKMANDL — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:59:30 GMT

Hi Rick, indeed I'm considering to use JCIFS as common element, being constrained to the Java world.

Thanks and regards,

Renzo

Re: How to rename a file from NM SDK API

sens — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:42:38 GMT

Hi Renzo,

file-rename-file API is available in the Vserver context of Cluster Mode ONTAP.

Regards,

Sen.