Dell Unity: How to Configure File Filtering

Summary: This article explains how to configure the file filtering feature on Dell Unity file systems.

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Instructions

File Filtering Overview

The File Filtering feature allows administrators to restrict file operations based on file extensions. Restricted file types cannot be created or modified on the configured SMB share.

Note:  Administrators are not subject to file filtering restrictions unless explicitly configured through permissions on the filter file.

 
Example Configuration
Setting Value
CIFS Server CIFSSERVERNAME
Share Name DataShare
File Extension to Block .mp3

 

Step 1: Access the File Filter Directory

Using a Domain Administrator account (or a Standalone SMB Administrator account), open Windows Explorer or select Start > Run, then enter the following UNC path:

\\CIFSSERVERNAME\c$\.etc\.filefilter

This opens the .filefilter directory on the SMB server.

Note: The .etc directory cannot be accessed by browsing through a mapped drive or by navigating to \\CIFSSERVERNAME\c$. The full path shown above must be entered directly.

Step 2: Create a Filter File

File filters use the following naming convention:

extension@sharename

Before creating the file, ensure that File name extensions is enabled in Windows Explorer to prevent hidden file extensions from being appended to the file name.

Figure 1: Window Explorer View Tab

Figure 1: Window Explorer View Tab

Example:

To block .mp3 files on the DataShare share, create a new file in the .filefilter directory named:

mp3@DataShare

Important: Ensure the file name does not contain any hidden file extensions. Windows Explorer may hide extensions for known file types by default.

JPEG file

Figure 2: Window Explorer File Name List

Additional Examples

Block .jpg files on share1:

jpg@share1
 Block .gpg files on share2: 
gpg@share2
 

Block a File Type on All Shares

To block a file extension across all shares on a specific SMB server, create a file using only the extension name.

Examples:

Block all .tmp files:

tmp
 Block all .jpeg files: 
jpeg
 

When no share name is specified, the filter applies to every share hosted on that SMB server.

Note: If multiple SMB servers exist on the Unity array, the filter files must be created separately for each SMB server.

Note: Customizing the file filtering "Access Denied" message is not supported on Dell Unity systems.

 

 

Additional Information

A filter file named gif@engineering_files can be configured so that members of the Engineering group have access to .gif files, while users outside the group are denied access to .gif files on the share.

To exempt the Engineering group from .gif file filtering:

  1. Right-click the gif@engineering_files filter file and select Properties > Security.
  2. Click Add and add the Engineering group.
  3. Under Permissions, select Full Control. The related permissions (Modify, Read & Execute, Read, and Write) are selected automatically.
  4. Click Apply, and then click OK.

Members of the Engineering group can now access .gif files on the share, while file filtering continues to apply to all other users.

Affected Products

Dell Unity 300, Dell EMC Unity 300F, Dell EMC Unity 350F, Dell EMC Unity 400F, Dell EMC Unity 450F, Dell EMC Unity 500, Dell EMC Unity 500F, Dell EMC Unity 550F, Dell EMC Unity 600, Dell EMC Unity 600F, Dell EMC Unity Family

Products

Dell EMC Unity XT 380, Dell EMC Unity XT 380F, Dell EMC Unity XT 480, Dell EMC Unity XT 480F, Dell EMC Unity 650F, Dell EMC Unity XT 680, Dell EMC Unity XT 680F, Dell EMC Unity XT 880, Dell EMC Unity XT 880F , Dell EMC Unity Family |Dell EMC Unity All Flash, Dell EMC Unity Family, Dell EMC Unity Hybrid ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000022468
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 07 تموز 2026
Version:  7
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