I've been able to use UNC names with the open command. I just say:

open (LOG, "<//Server/path/file.log") or die "Oh my: $!";
[download]

Granted I'm using a weird custom internally hacked perl, and more likely to matter, I'm just accessing the C drive through a defined share point.

It looks like you are connecting to the admin share of the F drive. I think that might be the cause of your problem. Try creating a normal share point and using it instead.

TGI says moo