Specifying home directory paths

About home directory paths

You can specify multiple home directory paths. Data ONTAP searches the home directory paths in the order you specify for the directory that matches the user name. Data ONTAP stops searching when it finds the matching directory.

About home directory path extensions

You can add an extension to the home directory path if you do not want users to access the top level of their home directories. The extension specifies a subdirectory that is automatically opened when users access their home directories. For an example of adding an extension, see When Data ONTAP processes changes to cifs_homedir.cfg file.

How to specify home directory paths

You can specify home directory paths by editing the /etc/cifs_homedir.cfg file. You can specify up to 1,000 path names in the /etc/cifs_homedir.cfg file.

When Data ONTAP processes changes to cifs_homedir.cfg file

Data ONTAP creates a default cifs_homedir.cfg file in the /etc directory when CIFS starts, if the file does not already exist. Changes to this file are processed automatically whenever CIFS starts. You can also process changes to this file by using the cifs homedir load command.

Specifying home directory paths in cifs_homedir.cfg

To specify home directory paths in the /etc/cifs_homedir.cfg file as the paths where Data ONTAP searches for user home directories, complete the following steps.

Step	Action
1	Create directories to use as home directory paths. Example In the /vol/vol0 volume, create a directory named enghome.
2	Open the /etc/cifs_homedir.cfg file for editing.
3	Enter the home directory path names created in Step 1 in the /etc/cifs_homedir.cfg file, one entry per line, to designate them as the paths where Data ONTAP searches for user home directories. Note You can enter up to 1,000 path names.
4	Enter the following command to process the entries: cifs homedir load [-f] `-f` forces the use of the new paths.

Effect of changing home directory paths with open files

You can change the home directory paths at any time by changing the entries in the cifs_homedir.cfg file. However, if a user has open files in a home directory path that you remove from the list, Data ONTAP displays a warning message and requests a confirmation for the change. Changing a directory path that contains an open file terminates the connection to the home directory.

Displaying the list of home directory paths

To display the current list of home directory paths, complete the following step.

Step	Action
1	Enter the following command: cifs homedir Note If you are using the hidden naming style for home directories, when you display the list of home directory paths, Data ONTAP automatically appends a dollar sign to the home directory name (for example, name$).

When hidden home directories are not displayed

If you are using the hidden naming style for home directories, home directories are not displayed in the following cases:

In DOS, when you use the net view \\filer command
In Windows, when you use an Explorer application to access the storage system and display home directory folders