Why can't I perform file actions on symbolic links in File Station?
Applicable Products
QTS 5.2.0 and above, QuTS hero 5.2.0 and above
Root Cause
When performing certain file actions on a symbolic link (for example copy, move, download, compress), the system will check that you have sufficient permissions to perform the action on both the symbolic link and on the file/folder the symbolic link is pointing to. If you do not have sufficient permissions on either the symbolic link or the linked file/folder, you will not be able to perform the action. You might also receive a "permission denied" error message.
- A symbolic link is a special type of file that references another file or folder.
- Symbolic links are similar to shortcuts on other operating systems, they allow you to create multiple file paths that link to a single file or folder without the need to physically copy the file or folder.
- Symbolic links are an advanced feature of QNAP operating systems and can only be created via SSH.
Determining permissions for symbolic links
To perform a particular file action (open,edit, copy,compress,etc.) on a symbolic link, the following are required:
- The file/folder linked to by the symbolic link must be a valid file path. Additionally, the following paths are also valid paths for targets of symbolic links:
- Paths listed in /etc/config/smb.conf under the section "PATH"
- Paths defined by Ubuntu Linux Station
- Paths defined by Snapshot and Snapshot Vault
- Paths of remote mounts
- /share/external/.nd
- /share/external/.cm
- /share/external/.cr
- You must have sufficient permission to perform the same file action on the linked file/folder.
For example, if a symbolic link references the file "myfile.doc", and you do not have write permission on "myfile.doc", then you do not have write permission on the symbolic link.
Example Scenario
The following is an example scenario where a file action on a symbolic link may be denied because the user does not have sufficient permissions on the linked file/folder.
The application Plex Media Server creates and uses symbolic links as part of its normal operation. If you create a shard folder on your system and restart Plex Media Server, then Plex Media Server will automatically create the symbolic folder link "Plex Media Server" in your shared folder. If you try to compress this symbolic link in File Station, you will receive the error "Unable to perform this action. You do not have enough permissions, or this folder is read-only". In this case, you cannot compress the symbolic folder link "Plex Media Server" because you do not have permission to compress the folder that "Plex Media Server" links to.
