This VFS module is part of the samba(7) suite.
The vfs_widelinks VFS module hides the existence of symbolic links in the filesystem inside a share. It
is used in Samba version 4.13 and above to implement the smb.conf"wide links = yes" functionality that
used to be inside the core smbd code. The module should not be loaded explicitly by smb.conf as part of
the "vfs objects =" parameter, but is loaded implicitly when "wide links = yes" is enabled. This is to
prevent existing smb.conf files from having to be modified to keep the existing insecure "wide links"
functionality on a share.
Please note that "wide links = yes" functionality is a deliberately insecure option, and should never be
used in Samba installations. On Linux, bind mounts can be used instead to implement anything "wide links
= yes" can enable. This module has been created to provide backwards compatibility with existing users of
"wide links = yes" installations, but this use cannot be recommended and is not endorsed by the Samba
developers.
Note that this implicit loading may become explicit in a later Samba release, and administrators wishing
to keep the insecure "wide links" functionality may have to add this module into their "vfs objects ="
module list. The Samba project release notes and this manpage will be updated to reflect this when this
change is made.
This module is stackable.