---
name: "atnetwork"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "atfs-dev"
version: "1.4pl6-15+b1"
release: "Debian 12 (Bookworm)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/atnetwork"
---

# atnetwork(3)

network path handling

## NAME

atNetworkPath, atLocalPath - network path handling

## SYNOPSIS

\#include \<atfs.h\>\
 \#include \<atfstk.h\>

char\* atNetworkPath (Af\_key \*aso);

char\* atLocalPath (char \*networkPath);

## DESCRIPTION

*atNetworkPath* returns a network wide unique pathname for *aso*. The pathname has the following structure\
 **\<hostname\>:\<canonical\_pathname\>@\<version\>**. Hostname is the name of the host controlling the device, where *aso* is stored. the canonical pathname is the real pathname (without symbolic links), where the object is located on that host. The version number, including the introducing at-sign (@) is optional. For busy versions, it may be missing or the string `busy`

*atLocalPath* maps a network path name to a local path name. When the host information in the network path denotes a remote host, atLocalPath looks up /etc/mtab for a mapping of the network canonical pathname to a local path. The resulting pathname is a local pathname in bound notation\
 **\<pathname\>\[version\]** with the version number added in brackets. It may be converted into an ASO descriptor by calling atBindVersion (manual page [atbind(3)](/atbind/3.md)).

## RETURN VALUE

Both functions return the resulting string in static memory. The result will be overwritten on a subsequent call. On failure, a null pointer is returned.

## SEE ALSO

[atbind(3)](/atbind/3.md)

## FILES

/etc/mtab