Accessing UNC paths from inside Perl CGI under IIS6

For space reasons, we need to move some files off our main file/webserver to another network fileserver. However, the original file/webserver is still responsible for providing access to these files, so that everything is seamless to the users.

I can provide transparent file access by using DFS on the original server. I can also provide transparent web access using an IIS Virtual Directory.

However, Perl CGI scripts running on the webserver can't access the new (remote) fileserver using UNC paths. This code snippet:

if (-e "\\\\server\\share\\file") { print "Found it\n"; }
else { print "Not found\n"; }

works on my local PC, but not on the webserver. I've been Googling around, and have run into similar examples, but no solutions.

Some environment info:

• Original File/Webserver: Windows Server 2003

• New Fileshare: IT NAS server, but I have full control over permissions, and have granted the local "IUSR" account from the Webserver permission to read this share

• IIS: Version 6

• IIS Authentication: Integrated Windows Authentication

• IIS Virtual Directory: configured to use a single AD user's security credentials to access the destination dir

Any help would be greatly appreciated!