AC56U Newbie questions about Samba share settings w Asuswrt-Merlin

[medeni73]

I have USB 3.0 HDD (NTFS formatted) attached to router. In order to use it for backup purposes I have enabled Samba sharing. I'm using Win 8.1 (64bit)

1. When I enable guest login in Samba settings I am able to see HDD on my laptop (I can add whole HDD as network place or map network drive). If I disable guest login HDD as partition is not visible anymore, just single folders are visible, so I cant add whole partition as network place or network drive it asks for single folder only. What am I doing wrong? Is it possible at all to add whole partition without guest login?

2. Where can I found info about other settings under Samba settings (force browse master, simple name etc). Maybe I need to tweak those settings too?

3. Are there better HDD sharing methods for Windows other than Samba that works with usual backup software?

Thanx in advance

 

[White_Knight]

Hello medeni73,

1. When I enable guest login in Samba settings I am able to see HDD on my laptop (I can add whole HDD as network place or map network drive). If I disable guest login HDD as partition is not visible anymore, just single folders are visible, so I cant add whole partition as network place or network drive it asks for single folder only. What am I doing wrong? Is it possible at all to add whole partition without guest login?

It's correct, when you enable guest access to your HDD you can see All data from mount points ( sdd or sda ) because there are not locked by Router Security permission.
If you disable Guest access you need set up Permission on SAMBA share page. You can add users and set permission on each folder ( RW - Read Write , R - Read Only , No - No access to folder )

Is it possible at all to add whole partition without guest login?

I propose you to set up one folder and save all your info to this folder ( you can use all space on your HDD )

Where can I found info about other settings under Samba settings (force browse master, simple name etc)

You can use search on this forum . I think you will find information about this options.

3. Are there better HDD sharing methods for Windows other than Samba that works with usual backup software?

Depends on what back up software you use ( some software work with FTP access , some with Samba )

 

[medeni73]

Thanx for very informative answers.
I had one more question though: you advice to set up one folder as replacement for partition but my backup strategy will almost always be a "clone image" of system hard drive so I am not sure how can I "clone" system drive in one folder?

 

[White_Knight]

medeni73

What program do you plan use for clone? As i say in my past post All Depends on BackUp software.

For Example, Windows 7 standart backup utility can back up files directly in Network folder you choice ( You can set user/password for that folder when setup backup )

On other Clone Disk programm please read User Manual and find topic like " Choice Backup Location"

I can't give you exactly answer on your question, Sorry.

P.S. Note: Clone Backup procedure to network folder take much more time than you create clone of your disk to External HDD connected by USB and than copy created image to Network Drive.

 

[medeni73]

I am thinking of Aomei Backupper or Comodo Backup (both free and enough features for my needs). Both can do Cloning but on both software couldnt find a word about which backup locations are supported for cloning.
you say "clone backup procedure to network folder" - how is it possible to do cloning to folder at all? Clone makes backup of all partitions including MBT thus making HDD spitting image of system HDD right? If so how can you do something like that to one folder?
I am not even sure if its cloning on network HDD possible and thatswhy my questions cos it would be only possible if I can see whole HDD via network sharing and not just network folder(s)...