How to overcome long file path issues with robocopy?

Question

How to overcome long file path issues with robocopy?

VJ-8370 446

Hi,

How to overcome long file path issues with robocopy? Any suggestions?

Also, could you please share any best practices to follow in migrating Windows File systems (preserving all attributes) to NetApp CVO on Azure?

Regards,
VJ

Xiaowei He 9,816 Reputation points

2020-09-16T02:22:21.097+00:00

Hi,

I would like to check if the above reply could be of help? If yes, please help accept answer, so that others meet a similar issue can find useful information quickly. If you have any other concerns or questions, please feel free to feedback.

Best Regards,
Anne
Amr Khalil 6 Reputation points

2020-10-27T10:40:32.133+00:00

I had a problem like that while trying to migrate servers and the Professionals adviced me to shorten the path name and to follow a link and to do ome troubleshooting with the windows but no way because I need the folders and the structure to be copied as it. Finally I found a way to solve this issue, a friend recommend me Long path tool and Gs RichCopy 360, both were great and my task done .

Xiaowei He 9,816 Reputation points

2020-09-16T02:22:21.097+00:00

Hi,

I would like to check if the above reply could be of help? If yes, please help accept answer, so that others meet a similar issue can find useful information quickly. If you have any other concerns or questions, please feel free to feedback.

Best Regards,
Anne
Amr Khalil 6 Reputation points

2020-10-27T10:40:32.133+00:00

I had a problem like that while trying to migrate servers and the Professionals adviced me to shorten the path name and to follow a link and to do ome troubleshooting with the windows but no way because I need the folders and the structure to be copied as it. Finally I found a way to solve this issue, a friend recommend me Long path tool and Gs RichCopy 360, both were great and my task done .

Answer 1

Xiaowei He 9,816

Hi,

ROBOCOPY will accept UNC pathnames including UNC pathnames over 256 characters long.

"/256 Turns off support for paths longer than 256 characters."

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy

Below is an article of the guides to migrate to Azure file shares:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-files-migration-overview

Thanks for your time!
Best Regards,
Anne

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VJ-8370 446 Reputation points

2020-09-18T16:48:21.437+00:00

Thanks a lot Anne for sharing the details.

Regards,
VJ
Xiaowei He 9,816 Reputation points

2020-09-21T01:54:54.29+00:00

You are welcome!
Bangkok Phone Booth 1 0 Reputation points

2023-07-26T07:56:47.45+00:00

Microsoft should put in restriction at OS level that file that have longer than 256 char will not allow to safe at any path of MS system (Online & Offline). Unless they can overcome this limitation on all systems they have created (Include old systems). Otherwise this look like put problem forward to user or customer who using their product.

Answer 2

Leon Laude 85,486

Hi @VJ-8370 ,

Robocopy supports paths that are larger than 256 characters by default, Robocopy even provides a flag that lets you turn OFF support for long path names (flag: /256).

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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote or accept as answer, thank you)

Best regards,
Leon

Aaron C 0 Reputation points

2023-05-05T18:43:58.8066667+00:00

U forgot to include the actual "how to" of that Robocopy thingy- incomplete answer. However an incomplete answer deserves an 👏.

Answer 3

As @Leon Laude said robocopy supports long path, but some version (OS dependent), in the past, had problem with permission.
You can also use https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/storage-migration-service/overview

This are two examples of possible solutions using robocoy and icacls

    ROBOCOPY  \\serversource\folder \\serverTarget\folder /E /w:0 /r:0 /xj /b /log:c:\logcopyfile.log  
    ROBOCOPY  \\serversource\folder \\serverTarget\folder /E /w:0 /r:0 /xj /b /Copy:S /IS /IT  log:c:\logcopysecurity.log  
    :: save and restore permission  
    icacls "\\serverSorgente\folder" /save C:\ACL_serversorgente /T      
    icacls "\\serverTarget\folder" /restore C:\ACL_serversorgente

Aaron C 0 Reputation points

2023-05-05T18:45:33.1766667+00:00

Was looking for a normal layperson's guide on how to Robocopy, not writing scripts. Is paying.for the thing the only way?

How to overcome long file path issues with robocopy?

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