CIFS share name uppercase or lowercase

[pedro_rocha]

Hello,

I know that it does not make any functional difference. Either lower or uppercase CIFS share name will work the same.

But I am curious:

Using ONTAP 9.3, a CIFS share name created in UPPERCASE displays on Windows in UPPERCASE.

Using ONTAP 9.8, a CIFS share name created in UPPERCASE displays on Windows in LOWERCASE.

Windows client is the same.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Pedro

[paul_stejskal]

No but I pinged someone who might.

[pedro_rocha]

thanks.

I also created a case but still nothing...

I saw that this behavior is not something related to NetApp... people have seen this with other storage products using CIFS shares. Still, not a decent explanation.

Beyond that, the strange thing is that it is happening in different ways between ONTAP versions, so maybe there is something about ONTAP also.

[paul_stejskal]

Case number? And do you have a tcpdump from both the 9.3 and 9.8 systems to compare the CIFS share being created?

[pedro_rocha]

# 2009106663

no tcpdump yet

[paul_stejskal]

Alright get that and then reply. We suspect it is Windows, but it would be curious to see.

[pedro_rocha]

New info is that using name (instead of the IP), case is how we set on the share.

Using IP, everything is lowercase 

[Ontapforrum]

Don't know if this bug has any bearing ? (It says found in 9.3P15)
https://mysupport.netapp.com/site/bugs-online/product/ONTAP/BURT/1277207

Also, this article says -If you have enabled or modified character mapping using the Vserver CIFS character-mapping commands, a normally case-insensitive Windows lookup becomes case-sensitive. (Again don't know if this is even related)
https://docs.netapp.com/us-en/ontap/nfs-admin/case-sensitivity-file-directory-multiprotocol-concept.html

[pedro_rocha]

thanks for the information

I don't think it's related (we're on 9.3P21, even though it does not specify where it was fixed)

I've seen several similar cases with windows shares, other storages... it just seems something regarding Windows. But in this case there is this pattern (9.3 respects share name case, 9.8 don't (always lower)).

[Mjizzini]

Will it make any difference if you access it via \\hostname\sharename or \\ip\sharename?

What is the value of below registry key ?

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\DontPrettyPath 

[pedro_rocha]

Hello, no difference. 

[Mjizzini]

Is there a difference between the volume/qtree Security style? Is it MIX, UNIX, or NTFS?

Additional info.

Case-sensitivity of file and directory names in a multiprotocol environment

[Mjizzini · Accepted solution]

I tested it in my lab (Ontap 9.8)

If you authenticate to the CIFS Vserver using Kerberos:

Uppercase shows in uppercase.

Lowercase shows in lowercase.

Mix will show Mix.

If you authenticate to the CIFS Vserver using NTLM:

Uppercase shows in lowercase.

Lowercase shows in lowercase.

Mix will show Mix .