The present invention enables a storage virtualization system to identify and preserve symlinks stored in a mixed protocol NFS+CIFS NAS system. Using the results of a multi-protocol scan, a storage virtualization system may identify which data objects are symlinks. The storage virtualization system may also determine the symlinks' target path information either by monitoring access or by referring to metadata discovered during the scan. After recording this target path information, the storage virtualization system may provide symlink expansion capabilities separate from the client computer or the NAS system. In addition, this target path information may be preserved upon symlink migration to a second NAS system.