Ubuntu file sharing access

[DotNetWebs]

Here's a question for all you Linux experts:

We have a network that consists of various Windows machine (XP/Vista/2003) central to the network is a QNAP TS-209 Pro NAS server.

We also have a Ubuntu machine that is basically used as a 'thin client'

The problem I have is with Ubuntu accessing the shares on the NAS. If I go to 'Places' - 'Network' I can see the shares and mount them successfully What I can't seem to do is get some programmes to access these shares through there own 'File' dialog boxes.

e.g If I want to save a Thunderbird attachment to the NAS I can't 'see' the shares anyware. Yet I can do the same thing with the Text Editor no problem.

I know very little about Linux so this problem is a bit alien to me. In Windows the file dialog boxes basically have the same access across all applications but in Ubuntu this does not appear to be the case.

If I can't access these shares directly I would be happy to settle with a local folder that I can keep synchronised with a similar folder on the NAS. Can anyone recommend a good sync programme for Ubuntu? I use SmartSync Pro for Windows and would like an equivalent.

Regards

Dotty

[KM-Tiger]

The problem I have is with Ubuntu accessing the shares on the NAS. If I go to 'Places' - 'Network' I can see the shares and mount them successfully What I can't seem to do is get some programmes to access these shares through there own 'File' dialog boxes.

Unfortunately that's a known issue, and I must say a maddening one, as many users will want to use Thunderbird.

Workaround is to mount the share from the command line using 'mount.cifs', something like:

sudo mount.cifs //server/share /pathto/mountdirectory -o user=username,pass=password,noperm

man mount.cifs will give other options if you need them. Note no spaces between options after the '-o', only commas. Also the 'mountdirectory' must exist.

Must dash, can help later if necessary.

[DotNetWebs]

Unfortunately that's a known issue, and I must say a maddening one, as many users will want to use Thunderbird.

Workaround is to mount the share from the command line using 'mount.cifs', something like:
.....

Many Thanks

I will give this a go when I get a minute.

Regards

Dotty

[DotNetWebs]

...I will give this a go when I get a minute....

Many thanks it works a treat! :)

Regards

Dotty

[FireFleur]

To be fair it depends on the file system, in this instance CIFS is a Microsoft file system. NFS would be another option, but depends what the NAS has been formatted to and allows.

Personally I use fuse and sshfs, and just ensure an encrypted channel.

If you want to mount this by default, or at least make the mount simpler, then you need to include a line in the /etc/fstab file.

http://docs.hp.com/en/B8724-90067/ch02s07.html

[edmondscommerce]

another thing you can do in ubuntu is look for a hidden folder in your home directory called .gvfs

Shares which get automatically mounted by Ubuntu are actually mounted in here.

Now to make a version that you can see easily, just right click the .gvfs folder and select make link...

call the new link whatever you want, it will be visible from your home directory which is easily acccessible from everywhere

[adamscomputers07]

Unfortunately that's a known issue, and I must say a maddening one, as many users will want to use Thunderbird.

Workaround is to mount the share from the command line using 'mount.cifs', something like:

sudo mount.cifs //server/share /pathto/mountdirectory -o user=username,pass=password,nopermman mount.cifs will give other options if you need them. Note no spaces between options after the '-o', only commas. Also the 'mountdirectory' must exist.

Must dash, can help later if necessary.

I added my NAS share to the FSTAB so it auto-mounts on boot, saves re-entering that line into a terminal. See:

http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/access-windows-shares-from-linux/

where it says # vi /etc/fstab and # vi /etc/sambapasswords The # means root prompt - replace it with this press ALT+F2 to open the RUN dialogue and type gksudo gedit /etc/fstab OR gksudo /etc/sambapasswords - follow all the other details apart from that. The reason is VI is a complex text editor and GEDIT is like notepad, both do the same for this purpose.

[DotNetWebs]

...just right click the .gvfs folder and select make link...

Tried this as well and it works great. Many thanks.

Regards

Dotty

[edmondscommerce]

no probs :-)