UNC Network Share Access (Windows)

Mapped drives cannot be used for file names when processes are run from the Server, because the drive is mapped only when the user is logged on to the interactive desktop.

Mapping is removed when the user logs off or disconnects from the share. Thus, a file that is valid when the request is created may be invalid at run time.

To specify network files, use a Universal Naming Convention (UNC), in the following format:

\\servername\sharename

Each file server must specify the User IDs and access rights (read, write, execute, and so on) for each of its shares. The User ID that is sent to these file servers is the User ID used to run the process (i.e., using Server credentials, explicit credentials, or client credentials).

The following restrictions apply.

  • The share on the file server can specify the User ID from that Domain (or everyone).
  • The share on the file server can specify the Server machine name and the User ID (or everyone).
  • You cannot specify Local System Account on a file server, since there is no external name associated with this credential. When a connection is made to the file server, the “guest” (or anonymous) account is used; therefore, the network share must specify that the guest account (or everyone) has access to the share.