diff --git a/MANIFEST b/MANIFEST
index cab00a7afb..cda20f202f 100644
--- a/MANIFEST
+++ b/MANIFEST
@@ -2973,7 +2973,7 @@
 
 # Utils directory
 ./utils/Makefile.am
-./utils/vds_check_compat_vol.c
+./utils/vds_elink_compat_vol.c
 
 # Mirror VFD utilities
 ./utils/mirror_vfd/Makefile.am
diff --git a/test/testvdsswmr.sh.in b/test/testvdsswmr.sh.in
index 7a93ab0703..2c82c1295e 100644
--- a/test/testvdsswmr.sh.in
+++ b/test/testvdsswmr.sh.in
@@ -100,8 +100,8 @@ fi
 # Check to see if the VOL connector specified by the HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR
 # environment variable supports Virtual Datasets.
 #
-# Note: Depends on vds_check_compat_vol tool from $(topdir)/utils
-../utils/vds_check_compat_vol
+# Note: Depends on vds_elink_compat_vol tool from $(topdir)/utils
+../utils/vds_elink_compat_vol
 rc=$?
 if [ $rc -ne 0 ] ; then
     echo
diff --git a/tools/test/h5diff/testh5diff.sh.in b/tools/test/h5diff/testh5diff.sh.in
index f727c7a4f8..103dd7bc72 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5diff/testh5diff.sh.in
+++ b/tools/test/h5diff/testh5diff.sh.in
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ EXIT_FAILURE=1
 
 H5DIFF=../../src/h5diff/h5diff               # The tool name
 H5DIFF_BIN=`pwd`/$H5DIFF    # The path of the tool binary
-VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL=../../../utils/vds_check_compat_vol # The vds_check_compat_vol tool name
-VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN=`pwd`/$VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL # The path of the vds_check_compat_vol tool binary
+VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL=../../../utils/vds_elink_compat_vol # The vds_elink_compat_vol tool name
+VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN=`pwd`/$VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL # The path of the vds_elink_compat_vol tool binary
 
 RM='rm -rf'
 CMP='cmp -s'
@@ -600,8 +600,8 @@ $CP -f $SRC_TOOLS_TESTFILES/tvlstr.h5 $TESTDIR/tvlstr2.h5
 # Check to see if the VOL connector specified by the HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR
 # environment variable supports virtual datasets (and external links)
 #
-# Note: Depends on vds_check_compat_vol tool from $(topdir)/utils
-$VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN
+# Note: Depends on vds_elink_compat_vol tool from $(topdir)/utils
+$VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN
 COMPAT_VOL=$?
 
 # ############################################################################
diff --git a/tools/test/h5dump/testh5dumpvds.sh.in b/tools/test/h5dump/testh5dumpvds.sh.in
index e93b67b906..cd839b61e2 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5dump/testh5dumpvds.sh.in
+++ b/tools/test/h5dump/testh5dumpvds.sh.in
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ H5DIFF_BIN=`pwd`/$H5DIFF          # The path of the h5diff  tool binary
 H5IMPORT=../../src/h5import/h5import     # The h5import tool name
 H5IMPORT_BIN=`pwd`/$H5IMPORT      # The path of the h5import  tool binary
 
-VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL=../../../utils/vds_check_compat_vol # The vds_check_compat_vol tool name
-VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN=`pwd`/$VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL # The path of the vds_check_compat_vol tool binary
+VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL=../../../utils/vds_elink_compat_vol # The vds_elink_compat_vol tool name
+VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN=`pwd`/$VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL # The path of the vds_elink_compat_vol tool binary
 
 RM='rm -rf'
 CMP='cmp -s'
@@ -505,8 +505,8 @@ COPY_TESTFILES_TO_TESTDIR
 # Check to see if the VOL connector specified by the HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR
 # environment variable supports virtual datasets (and external links)
 #
-# Note: Depends on vds_check_compat_vol tool from $(topdir)/utils
-$VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN
+# Note: Depends on vds_elink_compat_vol tool from $(topdir)/utils
+$VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN
 COMPAT_VOL=$?
 
 ####### test for dataset vds ######
diff --git a/tools/test/h5ls/testh5ls.sh.in b/tools/test/h5ls/testh5ls.sh.in
index 4e863956c5..b08aa5380e 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5ls/testh5ls.sh.in
+++ b/tools/test/h5ls/testh5ls.sh.in
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ EXIT_FAILURE=1
 
 H5LS=../../src/h5ls/h5ls               # The tool name
 H5LS_BIN=`pwd`/$H5LS    # The path of the tool binary
-VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL=../../../utils/vds_check_compat_vol # The vds_check_compat_vol tool name
-VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN=`pwd`/$VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL # The path of the vds_check_compat_vol tool binary
+VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL=../../../utils/vds_elink_compat_vol # The vds_elink_compat_vol tool name
+VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN=`pwd`/$VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL # The path of the vds_elink_compat_vol tool binary
 
 RM='rm -rf'
 CMP='cmp -s'
@@ -321,8 +321,8 @@ COPY_TESTFILES_TO_TESTDIR
 # Check to see if the VOL connector specified by the HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR
 # environment variable supports virtual datasets (and external links)
 #
-# Note: Depends on vds_check_compat_vol tool from $(topdir)/utils
-$VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN
+# Note: Depends on vds_elink_compat_vol tool from $(topdir)/utils
+$VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN
 COMPAT_VOL=$?
 
 # Toss in a bunch of tests.  Not sure if they are the right kinds.
diff --git a/tools/test/h5ls/testh5lsvds.sh.in b/tools/test/h5ls/testh5lsvds.sh.in
index cfdfa6bace..221cdc4214 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5ls/testh5lsvds.sh.in
+++ b/tools/test/h5ls/testh5lsvds.sh.in
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ EXIT_FAILURE=1
 
 H5LS=../../src/h5ls/h5ls               # The tool name
 H5LS_BIN=`pwd`/$H5LS    # The path of the tool binary
-VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL=../../../utils/vds_check_compat_vol # The vds_check_compat_vol tool name
-VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN=`pwd`/$VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL # The path of the vds_check_compat_vol tool binary
+VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL=../../../utils/vds_elink_compat_vol # The vds_elink_compat_vol tool name
+VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN=`pwd`/$VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL # The path of the vds_elink_compat_vol tool binary
 
 RM='rm -rf'
 CMP='cmp -s'
@@ -260,8 +260,8 @@ COPY_TESTFILES_TO_TESTDIR
 # Check to see if the VOL connector specified by the HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR
 # environment variable supports virtual datasets (and external links)
 #
-# Note: Depends on vds_check_compat_vol tool from $(topdir)/utils
-$VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN
+# Note: Depends on vds_elink_compat_vol tool from $(topdir)/utils
+$VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN
 COMPAT_VOL=$?
 
 ####### test for dataset vds ######
diff --git a/tools/test/h5repack/h5repack.sh.in b/tools/test/h5repack/h5repack.sh.in
index 9b826b3df0..a694ba7686 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5repack/h5repack.sh.in
+++ b/tools/test/h5repack/h5repack.sh.in
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ H5DUMP_BIN=`pwd`/$H5DUMP                # The path of the h5dump tool binary
 H5STAT=../../src/h5stat/h5stat          # The h5stat tool name
 H5STAT_BIN=`pwd`/$H5STAT                # The path of the h5stat tool binary
 
-VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL=../../../utils/vds_check_compat_vol # The vds_check_compat_vol tool name
-VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN=`pwd`/$VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL # The path of the vds_check_compat_vol tool binary
+VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL=../../../utils/vds_elink_compat_vol # The vds_elink_compat_vol tool name
+VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN=`pwd`/$VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL # The path of the vds_elink_compat_vol tool binary
 
 RM='rm -rf'
 CMP='cmp'
@@ -1342,8 +1342,8 @@ COPY_TESTFILES_TO_TESTDIR
 # Check to see if the VOL connector specified by the HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR
 # environment variable supports virtual datasets (and external links)
 #
-# Note: Depends on vds_check_compat_vol tool from $(topdir)/utils
-$VDS_CHECK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN
+# Note: Depends on vds_elink_compat_vol tool from $(topdir)/utils
+$VDS_ELINK_COMPAT_VOL_BIN
 COMPAT_VOL=$?
 
 TOOLTEST_HELP h5repack-help.txt -h
diff --git a/utils/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/CMakeLists.txt
index 1e263a8b7d..5fddf90123 100644
--- a/utils/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,28 +4,28 @@ project (HDF5_UTILS C)
 add_subdirectory (mirror_vfd)
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Add the vds_check_compat_vol executable
+# Add the vds_elink_compat_vol executable
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-set (vds_check_compat_vol_SOURCES ${HDF5_UTILS_SOURCE_DIR}/vds_check_compat_vol.c)
-add_executable (vds_check_compat_vol ${vds_check_compat_vol_SOURCES})
-target_include_directories (vds_check_compat_vol PRIVATE "${HDF5_UTILS_DIR};${HDF5_SRC_DIR};${HDF5_TEST_SRC_DIR};${HDF5_SRC_BINARY_DIR};$<$<BOOL:${HDF5_ENABLE_PARALLEL}>:${MPI_C_INCLUDE_DIRS}>")
+set (vds_elink_compat_vol_SOURCES ${HDF5_UTILS_SOURCE_DIR}/vds_elink_compat_vol.c)
+add_executable (vds_elink_compat_vol ${vds_elink_compat_vol_SOURCES})
+target_include_directories (vds_elink_compat_vol PRIVATE "${HDF5_UTILS_DIR};${HDF5_SRC_DIR};${HDF5_TEST_SRC_DIR};${HDF5_SRC_BINARY_DIR};$<$<BOOL:${HDF5_ENABLE_PARALLEL}>:${MPI_C_INCLUDE_DIRS}>")
 if (NOT BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
-  TARGET_C_PROPERTIES (vds_check_compat_vol STATIC)
-  target_link_libraries (vds_check_compat_vol PRIVATE ${HDF5_LIB_TARGET} ${HDF5_TEST_LIB_TARGET})
+  TARGET_C_PROPERTIES (vds_elink_compat_vol STATIC)
+  target_link_libraries (vds_elink_compat_vol PRIVATE ${HDF5_LIB_TARGET} ${HDF5_TEST_LIB_TARGET})
 else ()
-  TARGET_C_PROPERTIES (vds_check_compat_vol SHARED)
-  target_link_libraries (vds_check_compat_vol PRIVATE ${HDF5_LIBSH_TARGET} ${HDF5_TEST_LIBSH_TARGET})
+  TARGET_C_PROPERTIES (vds_elink_compat_vol SHARED)
+  target_link_libraries (vds_elink_compat_vol PRIVATE ${HDF5_LIBSH_TARGET} ${HDF5_TEST_LIBSH_TARGET})
 endif ()
-set_target_properties (vds_check_compat_vol PROPERTIES FOLDER utils)
-set_global_variable (HDF5_UTILS_TO_EXPORT "${HDF5_UTILS_TO_EXPORT};vds_check_compat_vol")
-set (H5_DEP_EXECUTABLES ${H5_DEP_EXECUTABLES} vds_check_compat_vol)
+set_target_properties (vds_elink_compat_vol PROPERTIES FOLDER utils)
+set_global_variable (HDF5_UTILS_TO_EXPORT "${HDF5_UTILS_TO_EXPORT};vds_elink_compat_vol")
+set (H5_DEP_EXECUTABLES ${H5_DEP_EXECUTABLES} vds_elink_compat_vol)
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Add Target to clang-format
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 if (HDF5_ENABLE_FORMATTERS)
-  clang_format (HDF5_UTILS_FORMAT vds_check_compat_vol)
+  clang_format (HDF5_UTILS_FORMAT vds_elink_compat_vol)
 endif ()
 
 ##############################################################################
diff --git a/utils/Makefile.am b/utils/Makefile.am
index f690f9b7ec..9185457d5c 100644
--- a/utils/Makefile.am
+++ b/utils/Makefile.am
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ SUBDIRS=mirror_vfd
 
 AM_CPPFLAGS+=-I$(top_srcdir)/src -I$(top_builddir)/src -I$(top_srcdir)/test
 
-bin_PROGRAMS = vds_check_compat_vol
+bin_PROGRAMS = vds_elink_compat_vol
 
 # All programs depend on the hdf5 library
 LDADD=$(LIBH5TEST) $(LIBHDF5)
diff --git a/utils/vds_check_compat_vol.c b/utils/vds_elink_compat_vol.c
similarity index 83%
rename from utils/vds_check_compat_vol.c
rename to utils/vds_elink_compat_vol.c
index 07e45e7d90..ebca924934 100644
--- a/utils/vds_check_compat_vol.c
+++ b/utils/vds_elink_compat_vol.c
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@
 
 /* Purpose:     This is a small program that checks if the HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR
  *              environment variable is set to a value that supports virtual
- *              datasets.
+ *              datasets & external links.  Currently that is limited to a
+ *              VOL connector stack that is composed of _only_ the trivial
+ *              single connector stack of the native VOL connector.
  *
  *              It is intended for use in shell scripts.
  */
@@ -25,12 +27,12 @@
  *
  * Purpose:     Uses the default file access property lists, which is
  *              initialized with the VOL connector from the HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR
- *              environment variable to determine if virtual datasets are
- *              supported.
+ *              environment variable to determine if virtual datasets & external
+ *              links are supported.
  *
- * Return:      VOL connector supports virtual datasets:          EXIT_SUCCESS
+ * Return:      VOL connector supports virtual datasets & external links: EXIT_SUCCESS
  *
- *              VOL connector does not support virtual datasets
+ *              VOL connector does not support virtual datasets & external links,
  *              or failure:                 EXIT_FAILURE
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------