file commands don't work with virtual folders

[Awanka]

I can't get file command like file($fileName) and file_exists($fileName) to work with a file stored on another server and accessible through a virtual folder.

 

ie.

 

/resources/ is a virtual folder pointing to a location on a remote server that is accessible via network

 

file_exists("/resources/tmp/test.txt") doesn't work if the file is there.

 

src = "/resources/tmp/test.txt" however does work oddly enough.

 

Any ideas or suggestions?