http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc739389(v=ws.10).aspx

If the ftpd.bypass_traverse_checking option is set to off, when a user attempts to access a

file using FTP, Data ONTAP checks the traverse (execute) permission for all directories in the path

to the file. If any of the intermediate directories does not have the "X" (traverse permission), Data

ONTAP denies access to the file. If the ftpd.bypass_traverse_checking option is set to on,

when a user attempts to access a file, Data ONTAP does not check the traverse permission for the

intermediate directories when determining whether to grant or deny access to the file.