Does MetaDefender Storage Security support symlinks scanning?

Yes, MDSS fully supports symbolic links (symlinks) when using the NFS storage type. This means that MDSS can seamlessly follow these links and process the files they point to.

All major types of symlinks are supported across both Windows and Linux deployments, including:

  • Soft links (symbolic links)

  • Hard links

  • Junction points (Windows-specific)

Feature

Soft Link

Hard Link

Junction Point

What it is

File containing a path string

Directory entry for file data

Filesystem pointer

Points to

File or Directory

File only

Directory only

Cross Volume?

Yes

No

Yes (Local Volumes Only)

Target Deleted?

Link becomes broken

Other links remain valid

Link becomes broken

Platform

Linux/Unix, Windows

Linux/Unix, Windows

Windows only


Symlink scanning exclusivity

Symlink scanning is exclusively applicable to NFS and is not supported for other storage types. To learn more about integrating an NFS share, please refer to this page.

Broken link handling in MDSS

When MDSS encounters a broken link or a link pointing to a non-existent or inaccessible target, it will generate an error indicating that it was unable to locate the file at the specified path (the path to which the broken symlink was pointing).