Why NodeJS fs module won't read or write to visible folder shared on the network?

[worknotalent]

Details

I shared a folder on my network through the use of Windows UI.

I'm able to access this folder and edit its content through the File Explorer but problems arise when I try to do the same programmatically. Any fs functions will work on the hoster machine but on any secondary device it won't.

I had to pass the hoster session credentials when I first tried to access the folder from the secondary device so I'm guessing this folder is invisible to NodeJS for the same reason but I'm not sure, and if so I don't know how to pass credentials to NodeJS to make network folders accessible to it.

Node.js version

20.12.0

Example code

node:fs:2342 return binding.writeFileUtf8( ^

Error: UNKNOWN: unknown error, open '//DESKTOP-NAME/folder/test.txt' at Object.writeFileSync (node:fs:2342:20) at file:///C:/Users/me/some_folder/some_file.js:3:4 at ModuleJob.run (node:internal/modules/esm/module_job:222:25) at async ModuleLoader.import (node:internal/modules/esm/loader:323:24) at async loadESM (node:internal/process/esm_loader:28:7) at async handleMainPromise (node:internal/modules/run_main:113:12) { errno: -4094, code: 'UNKNOWN', syscall: 'open', path: '\\DESKTOP-NAME\folder\test.txt' }

Node.js v20.12.0

Operating system

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.4291]

Scope

code

Module and version

fs

[RedYetiDev]

@nodejs/platform-windows does Node.js support network drives?

[worknotalent]

Someone on StackOverflow suggested to use a package called node-cmd to update the credentials first and then use the fs function but it still fails for me : import cmd from "node-cmd" cmd.runSync(net use \\DESKTOP-${device} /user:${username} ${password});

[preveen-stack]

Did you try escaping backslashes \\DESKTOP-NAME\folder\test.txt

[mStirner]

You cant use a smb/cifs share as path in node.js. Mount that network share as local resource like drive X: or what ever you want, and use then x:/path/to/wher-ever-you-want-to-go.

[mStirner]

@nodejs/platform-windows does Node.js support network drives?

Does node support nfs/linux network shares? No. You have to mount the network shared resources as local medium/device, and use that in node.js

[tniessen]

Does Node.js not support UNC paths on Windows? I was under the impression that any UNC path referring to a real file system (not an emulated file system or USB device or so) would work.

[RedYetiDev]

Thanks for the information!

It appears Node.js does not support the functionality you are attempting to use, so unfortunately it may not be possible to achieve the desired results.