Sharing a symlinked (`mklink /d`) directory via SMB?

Question

I have a Windows 7 amd64 box where one directory is shared:

• local path is d:\drop\
• remote path is \\aloism\drop
• from SMB point of view, Everyone has Read and Write permission
• ACLs for the folder are set so that all authenticated users have read and write permissions:
  NT AUTHORITY\Authenticated Users:(OI)(CI)C (which is inherited to all levels below)

Now I create a symbolic link within the structure of the directory:

D:\drop>mklink /d tools2 tools
symbolic link created for tools2 <<===>> tools

The problem is that I can't access this new directory from any of the remote machines (a Windows 7 box and a Windows XP box—both behave the same way):

C:\>dir  \\aloism\drop\tools2\
Volume in drive \\aloism\drop is droot
Volume Serial Number is FA73-1897

Directory of \\aloism\drop\tools2

File Not Found

How can I make it work? Possibly also for files?

Solution

I think that you should use DFS for this kind of mappings. Another alternative would be NTFS junction point

Comments

[Alois Mahdal]

I have changed these links to junctions and actually I do get to access the folder.

[Alois Mahdal]

On the other hand, DFS is not really relevant for desktop, although it is inplace here. So I suggest splitting the answer into two Answers so I can +1 the other one as well .-)