Network Place (Samba) Share

[J.T.]

Using my AC86U on Merlin 382.1

I have a question. I have my hard drive hooked up to the USB and have enabled the Samba share.

I can create folders from my Windows computers (both Windows 7) just fine when I have Allow guest login turned on. However, when I turn that setting off to where I need to enter a password to get into my folder, I get an error when I try to create a folder. But when I back out of the folder and return, the new folder is there.

I can browse and create files just fine when Allow guest login is turned on. Just can't create folders without the error and having to back out of the folder and return. Annoying to say the least...

Anyone else having this issue?

 

[RMerlin]

Check your disk's filesystem permissions, especially if it's formatted in ext2/3/4.

 

[J.T.]

Thank you for helping me with this.

I have tried this with both a HDD and a thumb drive. Same issue. Both formatted NTFS. I think I also tried ext2 and had the exact same issue.

I did some reading just now on this forum, and I saw some of the people state they have permission problems while using a router as a file server. Should I try another format type or is my best option just to turn on guess login and call it a day?

One of the reasons I purchased this $200 router is to use a file server...

 

[Vimes]

On Windows 10 I get a very similar error, the differences probably just down to the OS.

I have just bought a AC86U router and installed the same firmware that you have. I assumed that I was doing something wrong when I have plugged in my USB 3 Lexar 128gb stick. It is formatted with NTFS and when it is accessed with the allow guest login option ticked I can then create folders and, most importantly, copy stuff over to the drive.
Without that guest option then I am limited to what has already been placed on the drive with view but not create a folder, that has to be done on the router. I do have the correct permissions for that drive and its contents.
For now I make do with the warning flashing symbol in the routers UI informing me that I have given unauthorised users the rights to login to the Samba shares IF I wish to add folders through Windows.

.....the above are photo folders but only manageable with the guest option turned on. Also the stick itself can only be managed with the guest option on.


The folder creation etc is fine.....

When the guest access is turned off the folder view changes....

the creation then needs to be done ONLY at the router. I can no longer create files through Windows but I can add to their contents.

 

[ColinTaylor]

When the guest access is turned off the folder view changes....

the creation then needs to be done ONLY at the router. I can no longer create files through Windows but I can add to their contents.

This is the key difference. When switching from guest to non-guest mode the "root" of the USB drive changes. So in the example above, in guest mode there is only one "share" called "usb". In non-guest mode there are multiple shares (Halloween, Sadie, Testing, etc.).

In non-guest mode the shares (and by implication their associated underlying directories) should only be created through the routers web interface. If you create files/directories in the root of the USB drive in guest mode (or on a PC) and then switch to non-guest mode you will have problems. It's simpler to start with a freshly formatted USB drive, plug it into the router, and create new shares in non-guest mode.

 

[Vimes]

This is the key difference. When switching from guest to non-guest mode the "root" of the USB drive changes. So in the example above, in guest mode there is only one "share" called "usb". In non-guest mode there are multiple shares (Halloween, Sadie, Testing, etc.).

In non-guest mode the shares (and by implication their associated underlying directories) should only be created through the routers web interface. If you create files/directories in the root of the USB drive in guest mode (or on a PC) and then switch to non-guest mode you will have problems. It's simpler to start with a freshly formatted USB drive, plug it into the router, and create new shares in non-guest mode.

Thanks, I think that I should have worded what I had written differently. Not knowing what to expect I had to understand the differences what it meant when using either guest or admin type accounts, which you can create with degrees of access for read and write within the Asus UI.
Understanding what it means on how to create folders through the UI of the router is not an issue with a non-guest account, I can then add content as normal. In that sense it is drag and drop once the folder is created.

Once you understand that you can add to the contents of a folder that create through the Asus UI then it works as I would expect it to.

I'm just glad that it works to then share content between our TV's etc.

At least that is much more than I could ever get working consistently with DD-WRT.