A fake root is a directory in a volume that functions as a root directory for a specific software application.
Some applications require their executable files to be located in a root directory. However, for security, you should not grant users rights to files at the root of the volume.
NetWare allows you to map a directory as a network drive that serves as a fake root directory, using the map root command. This allows you to install an application in a directory and assign rights for it at that directory level. For information, see Section 7.12, Creating a Fake Root Directory with the Map Root Command.
Fake roots work with the NetWare DOS Requester, with NetWare shells, and with clients, including Windows* 98/ME and Windows 2000/XP/2003. Fake roots do not work for IBM* OS/2* clients. (Under OS/2, all mapped drives are roots, and search drives do not exist.)
For Windows NT*/2000/XP workstations that use Novell Client™ login scripts, a map command in the login script automatically enables a mapped NetWare subdirectory as a fake root directory. For information about disabling this behavior, see Section 7.13, Disabling the Default Use of Map as Map Root in Login Scripts.