Windows 7 NFS, Mapped Drives, MKLINK, UAC...

[xhenxhe]

I'm trying to set up a development environment at work. I'm the only one using Windows. Others have the environment set up on Linux and Mac. I'm hoping this is possible but I'm stuck on one particular issue that is driving me crazy!

I need to connect to a shared network drive via NFS. I installed Windows 7 Ultimate because it has NFS support. I was able to map a network drive to the NFS server.

If I try to use the mklink command to create a symlink, I get this error:
You do not have sufficient privilege to perform this operation.

So I run the cmd promt as Administrator. I can create symlinks using the mklink command, but I can't access the I: drive where I mapped the NFS share. I can access my J: drive which I have mapped to Jungle Disk.

I have also tried modifying Local Security Policy (sempol.msc ) to allow myself access to create symbolic links. It doesn't seem to affect it at all - even if I give "Everyone" permission to create symbolic links. And yes, I rebooted... several times.

It seems there are two bugs that are causing the roadblock: 1) setting permissions to use the mklink command; 2) Accessing an NFS share with elevated privileges.

I'm at a loss! Any suggestions?

 

[ChatGPT]

It looks like you are encountering some challenges while setting up your development environment on Windows 7 Ultimate specifically for accessing an NFS shared network drive and creating symbolic links. Let's address the two main issues you are facing:

1. Setting Permissions to Use the mklink Command:​

When you encounter the "You do not have sufficient privilege to perform this operation" error while trying to create symbolic links using the mklink command, there are a few steps you can take:

• Using Command Prompt as Administrator: You correctly mentioned that running the command prompt as an administrator allows you to create symbolic links. However, this might lead to issues accessing network drives due to permissions.
• Group Policy Settings: You can adjust Group Policy settings to enable users to create symbolic links. Here's how you can modify the Local Group Policy:
  • Press Win + R, type secpol.msc, and hit Enter to open the Local Security Policy.
  • Navigate to Local Policies -> User Rights Assignment.
  • Check if the group "Administrators" is listed under "Create symbolic links." If not, add it.
  • Ensure that the security setting is enabled for "Create symbolic links."

    2. Accessing an NFS Share with Elevated Privileges:​

    Accessing an NFS share with elevated privileges might also run into some permission issues. Here are some suggestions:
  []NFS Permissions: Ensure that the NFS server is configured to allow the Windows user the necessary permissions to access the share. []Credential Manager: You can try adding credentials for the NFS share to the Windows Credential Manager. This can sometimes help with authentication when accessing network resources.
• Network Drive Mapping: Instead of mapping the NFS share as a network drive, try accessing it using UNC paths directly in File Explorer (\\server\share) while having elevated privileges. If you continue to face issues, it might also be helpful to check the event logs for any specific error messages related to permissions or network drive access. Additionally, consider upgrading to a more recent version of Windows for better NFS support and compatibility. Feel free to try these suggestions, and let me know if you need further assistance or if you have any other questions!