[SOLVED] Read and Edit Files simultaneously on multiple devices from an HDD ?

[waghela]

Good afternoon I want to purchase equipment that allows me to access, save and edit files directly and simultaneously on one or more hard drives from Desktop, laptop and smartphone. I found in an online store these devices that seem to me to be useful for this purpose (see following links). However, as I have no knowledge in this matter, I can't understand how I'm going to configure it if there is no video output that allows me to configure these equipment’s, assuming that the mouse and keyboard connect to the USB port? If I mount two 6TB hard drives, the storage capacity will appear as if it were a single 12TB drive, or will it only be possible to work on two 6TB drives separately? Which connection port is advantageous for network sharing: Ethernet 1 Gbs or USB 3.2 gen 1 6Gbs? FANTEC_CL-35B2 has a SATA I interface. Does it support an 8 TB SATA III hard drive? FANTEC QB-35US3-6G_eSATA_USB 3.2 GEN1_Page_1 FANTEC QB-35US3-6G_eSATA_USB 3.2 GEN1_Page_2 FANTEC_CL-35B2_Ethernet_Page_1 FANTEC_CL-35B2_Ethernet_Page_2

 

[waghela]

Right now I'm waiting for a 12TB HDD that I ordered.

However, to familiarize myself with the equipment I am using a USB Pen.

The executable file "finder.exe" opens the "iSharing Finder" window. The "Connect" button opens the authentication window in the browser. In the "Mapping" window I don't know which "Address" I should use.

I put the address "192.168.1.70" in File Explorer but was taken to the authentication page in the browser.

Files in the "My Cloud" window are only downloaded in browser.

Screenshots
FANTEC_CL-35B2 - Disk

 

[evermorex76]

I thought you were using a Mac when I saw the screenshots; weird that they made the interface look so similar and even used "Finder" as the program name.

In File Explorer, you need to enter it in network address format (UNC path). It should be "\\192.168.1.70" (no quotes of course). You may also just be able to click on the Network in the left panel of File Explorer and see the device listed there. But until you configure shares using the web interface, there shouldn't be any folders there to open.

You need to use the web interface to configure the sharing (it probably won't automatically share the USB drive you plugged in), change the web login credentials for security, and set a username and password for the shared folder (again for security in case someone connects to your network so they can't just browse your files), then access it from File Explorer. You would also want to give it a static IP address that is not within your network's DHCP range so that it doesn't randomly change, and you can then map a drive letter to the share for easy access and treat it just like a drive in your computer. (I don't know if you need to set the HOME folder per that one message in order for the basic functions to work while you wait for the hard drive. If you set it now you'd have to point it to the USB stick and then go through changing it to the hard drive later.)

Once you have the test share set up, and you browse to it in File Explorer and enter the username and password you set up, you'll see the share name. Right-click on it and you can select Map Network Drive and give it a drive letter. (Later when you have the real hard drive, you can right-click the drive letter and Disconnect the test folder.)

If it does NOT support SMBv2, then you probably won't be able to browse to it in File Explorer at all. You might be able to see it on the network (not sure), but won't be able to open the shares. You would need to go through the steps to install/enable SMBv1 in Windows at that point.

I don't think we need to have the ISO of the disc that came with the device.

 

[waghela]

I set up an external disk with the "Mount Point" "/home".

Using "\\192.168.1.70" in "File Explorer" opens the "Network Error" Window. I cannot access and edit the files of the External Disk directly on my Desktop Disk.

In the browser's workspace I can only open and edit the ".txt" file. The ".pdf" file is downloaded to the browser.

In the "Preferences" clicking on "SAMBA" appears the message "Workgroup Name: WORKGROUP". What is the utility and how to use this "WORKGROUP" service?

The files “Drag and Drop” from my Desktop to Cloud works perfectly

In Filezilla appears the window with message "Insecure FTP connection". But works perfectly allowing download the files to my Desktop Disk.

Screenshots-02

 

[evermorex76]

Workgroup names are irrelevant in a home network. They were meant mainly for small business networks where there is no domain controller (and are never used anymore really; Windows doesn't even make it easy to see it anymore), and WORKGROUP is the default workgroup name in Windows so it's most likely what yours is set to anyway. A domain name is important for security (because your user account is only associated with a specific domain, you have to specify the domain when you provide your username to access resources) but user accounts aren't associated with workgroups. It's just used for display purposes, so you can view them in the Network list in File Explorer for organizational purposes.

Insecure FTP connection just means you're not using encrypted FTP (SFTP which uses SSH or FTPS which uses TLS/SSL). Many applications now give you "warnings" like that because there is a strong push to use secured connections for everything possible. If you were connecting to an FTP server on the Internet, secure FTP is important to prevent your data from being intercepted. It's still relevant on a local network like this, but there's less risk as you have control of the network. (You are more likely to know if a rogue machine is physically plugged in, and you can use a secure Wi-Fi password, and the risk of compromised PCs or other devices is lower.) I doubt this device has any options for enabling secure versions of FTP but you can look in the FTP settings.

Assuming the file share is correctly configured on the device, that network error is likely an indication that you need SMBv1 enabled. You can try enabling SMBv1 functionality in Windows.

Open a PowerShell instance as administrator and run this command to enable it:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1Protocol

If it still doesn't work, you should disable SMBv1 again with this command:

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1Protocol

And this one will confirm whether it's enabled or not:

Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1Protocol | Select State

You may have to restart Windows in order to "reset" the connection attempt since it has already failed once, even though you don't have to restart to enable/disable SMBv1. Windows is just weird about things like that sometimes. If it does work, then you'll have to keep it enabled to use the NAS like a drive letter or browse to it in File Explorer. SMBv1 does have security issues, so the security of your network and any PCs and devices connected to it is even more important when it's enabled. The vulnerabilities are trivial to exploit and older OSes or those that are not updated or have no malware protection may have no defenses against being infected with malware that attacks via SMBv1. But in general, a home network should be safe to use it. (Allowing random people to bring their devices to connect to your network is not recommended, of course.)

You should also disable other services that run on the NAS if you're not going to use them, if they have a disable option. They will also be running very old versions of their services, which may have their own vulnerabilities. There isn't much need for FTP on the local network unless you're using an application that can only transfer files to/from the NAS using that protocol (like a backup application perhaps), and the Media Server probably won't be a lot of use (it's used for streaming media to devices using DLNA or UPnP, and organizing them, but it's not useful for general file access), or iTunes functionality. NFS and AFP are also unnecessary.

 

[waghela]

Thank you evermorex76

My goals have already been fulfilled.

Enabling SMBv1 did the miracle: it allowed to view and edit all files directly from File Explorer. I was also able to do it from another PC connected to the same network.

It was all I needed to get from the equipment I purchased.

The next step will be to access the files from my Android Smartphone in the same way.

Thank you.

File Explorer