SyncIQ fails with error: Maximum file name length support differs

Summary: A SyncIQ job fails when Long Filename (LFN) support is enabled on a source or target cluster while not enabled on the peer cluster.

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Symptoms

SyncIQ fails with error: "Maximum file name length support differs between the source and target. Cannot sync a cluster with long file names to a target cluster without long name support enabled"

Cause

A SyncIQ job fails if LFN is enabled on only one cluster, source, or target, in a SyncIQ relationship.
On OneFS, the default name length defaults are 255 Bytes in length and 255 characters. Both clusters in a SyncIQ relationship must be able to support Long Filenames (LFN) that exceed the default maximum.

Resolution

Check whether LFN is enabled on both source and target clusters:

NOTE: If enabled, it is not reversible.

 

# isi_for_array -s 'sysctl efs.bam.long_file_name_enabled'

Check the LFN setting for SyncIQ's source and target paths:

# isi sync policies view <policy_name> |grep Path:
# isi namelength list

Enable LFN on the cluster:

NOTE: If enabled, it is not reversible.
 
# isi_sysctl_cluster efs.bam.long_file_name_enabled=1 --explanation="Enable LFN"

 

NOTE: Sometimes, a matching name length setting might also be required to mirror the source setting.


Example command:

 

# isi namelength create --max-bytes xxxx --max-chars xxxx /ifs/<lfn_path>

Additional Information

LFN was introduced in OneFS 9.3.
More information: http://www.unstructureddatatips.com/onefs-and-long-filenames/This hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies.

Affected Products

Isilon SyncIQ

Products

PowerScale
Article Properties
Article Number: 000343370
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 12 Nov 2025
Version:  2
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