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SMB: Short file name creation should be disabled

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Updated: November 17, 2010

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

This topic is intended to address a specific issue identified by a Best Practices Analyzer scan. You should apply the information in this topic only to computers that have had the File Services Best Practices Analyzer run against them and are experiencing the issue addressed by this topic. For more information about best practices and scans, see Best Practices Analyzer.

Operating System

Windows Server 2008 R2

Product/Feature

File Services

Severity

Warning

Category

Performance

Issue

In addition to the normal file names, the server is creating short, eight-character file names with a three-character file extension (8.3 file names) for all files.

Impact

Creating short file names in addition to the normal, long file names can significantly decrease file server performance.

Resolution

Disable short file name creation unless short file names are required by legacy applications.

Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure.

To disable short file name creation

  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and click OK.

  2. Locate and then click to select the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\File System.

  3. Right-click the setting NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation and click Modify.

  4. In the Value data box type 1 and click OK.