Odd symlink behavior on apache virtual host

clicking on a listed file that is a symlink returns a 404

[AidanLee]

with this in my httpd.conf

<VirtualHost xxxx.xxxx.net xxxx.xxxx.net>
ServerAdmin [e-mail]
DocumentRoot /...../www
ServerName xxxx.xxxx.net
ErrorLog /usr/local/etc/httpd/logs/VHOST/user_errors
TransferLog /usr/local/etc/httpd/logs/VHOST/user_access
Options Indexes FollowSymLinks ExecCGI
AddHandler cgi-script .cgi
</VirtualHost>

I've browsed to a directory in which lives a symlinked file. I have indexes turned on, so i can see the file is actually there. clicking on the link for that file, however, returns for me a 404. The symlink is valid, as I can type it in an ssh shell and get the file just fine.

I've used symlinks with apache without a hitch in the past. Am I missing something this time?

[hakre]

maybe the symlink is outside your webroot?

[AidanLee]

good call. that seems to have been the problem. strange, though, because i've linked in a directory from outside web root in the past and things worked just fine.

thanks.