Could the PBO drive(s) be accessed via the networked PC(s)?

[lousk]

This paragraph is for reference only;

If anyone owns the Markus 800, (via NDAS by Ximeta provided installation software) would know about the ability of mounting the Markus 800 HD, via the LAN PC, offering the ablitity to manipulate folders and files between the PC and Markus' HD, i.e. copy, move, or delete in either direction.
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Of course, the PBO can achieve that... somewhat with limitation.

Once the storage device is installed in the PBO is to use the interface, while it's networked with PC, then the files, folders can be moved, copy or deleted, but that is ONLY limited to what's shared at the PC level.

-Another method is connecting the PBO via mini USB to the the PC, which will allow the entire access to HD to be manipulated.

Having said that: I was just wondering if there is a way, perhaps via software, firmware or hack if it is possible while at the networked PC to gain access to the PBO's internal HD (entirety) over the LAN, offering the same results as being connected to the mini-USB connection?

[aasoror]

Having said that: I was just wondering if there is a way, perhaps via software, firmware or hack if it is possible while at the networked PC to gain access to the PBO's internal HD (entirety) over the LAN, offering the same results as being connected to the mini-USB connection?

Sure yes, first make sure SAMBA is enabled in your network setup menu of the PBO.

Then verify that you can access the PBO HDD via your windows file explorer (either using PBO IP or using its machine name).

Finally, just map the PBO HDD as a network drive.

[lousk]

Thank you for responding to my message.
I will follow your advice as soon as I get a chance, and I will be posting the outcome.

-Thanks again for your time and for offering your knowledge.

[lousk]

Here is my update as I promised:

Still with the stock fw P020P05, I did {just like you said}:
I turned ON BT/Samba from the PBO and that's all.

At the PC running WIN 7 Ux86, clicked <Network>, and on the right pane, underneath Computer Section, and YES!!!... it showed that I have an additional computer by the name "VENUS" (I'm unsure as to why and from where did it inheret this name, or could it be renamed?). I verified that the PBO internal HD was FULLY accessible, i.e. copying, moving and deleting from-and-to, I was able to do anything I wanted.

Now I'm no longer limited, having to 'physically' connecting the PBO to the PC via the mini-USB, also allowing me the ability to manipulate files and folders beyond what's shared using the the existing networked PC(s).

P.S. I didn't even have to "... map the PBO HDD as a network drive." in order to use it, as it was already showing up.

Thank you so much!
My sincere respect and gratitude goes to you and to people just like yourself, especially for offering their time and expertize in helping and guiding newbies people like me.

Patriot Box Office Rocks!!!

[petec]

Lousk,

Try copying about about 50 Gb in MKV files using your Samba share. I noticed when I first turned on Samba I was able to copy about 20-30 Gb in MKV files. After that I could no longer copy MKV files (4-11Gb each) without the PBO dropping the network connection. Turning on/off or rebooting the PBO doesn't change anything. I haven't tried to update Samba to a newer version yet though. I also utilize Samba on one of my NAS boxes (FreeNas) along with Win2003 servers sharing files. I see no real difference in my issues if I am copying over from the FreeNAS or W2003 box to the PBO box. BTW the NAS boxes are all on Gb links.

Not sure specficially if any FW version is better than another relating to Samba. My only comparision is 2 other (unnammed mfgs) NMT's which do not have this issue. The issues do not exists with smaller file copying (DiVx-.7 to 1.5Gb files). I just recently completed about close to 400Gb of copying over to the HDD samba share via a USB connection today. I was going to test a USB connected to PBO Samba shared drive to see if there is anything different. I did notice some odd directory updates as I refresh the samba share almost as if files dissappear and reappear while samba is running.

[aasoror]

P.S. I didn't even have to "... map the PBO HDD as a network drive." in order to use it, as it was already showing up.

True, you don't have to do the mapping, its more of a convenience to access the whole share using a singe drive letter "Z:". And some windows application doesn't work with network paths and you must map the drive to use them (though nothing for you to worry about at the moment).

[lousk]

Petec,

Unfortunately I hardly have any MKV files to try to copy using Samba. But I'll try what you said as soon as I accumulate a few. Meanwhile I'll try to do the same thing using rather AVI, MP4 and FLV (50GB or so) to see what happens. So far I'm using the PBO wirelessly-N and was able to copy from><to and stream A/V reasonably well. This was my first attempt using Samba. I've used NDAS with Markus 800, and have had no issue other than I couldn't use the most updated version; it's just wouldn't work no matter how much I tried. So in the end I reverted to the original version which was originally included in the package.

For now I'll stick with the stock FW, but eventually I'll experiment with different version, testing out the USB as well as Samba's shared HD abilities, transfering folders using different networking methods and so on. I'll jot the results as they become significant.

[petec]

Just noticed another issue this morning. I had switched the PBO to utilizing the USB cable for my MKV copies. I switched it back this morning and it became the "master browser" on my network causing some havic. Took it off the network and all is fine now. Must be another setting for the samba.conf that I have to adjust. I have some issues with my FreeNas box (6 TB) running Samba copying some major large files but don't see the same with the W2003 / other NMTs (running Samba).

[scboley]

Just noticed another issue this morning. I had switched the PBO to utilizing the USB cable for my MKV copies. I switched it back this morning and it became the "master browser" on my network causing some havic. Took it off the network and all is fine now. Must be another setting for the samba.conf that I have to adjust. I have some issues with my FreeNas box (6 TB) running Samba copying some major large files but don't see the same with the W2003 / other NMTs (running Samba).

Master browser shouldn't be an issue at all because it's just the lead system that points to where the other windows network shares and components are located and you can have more than one master browser on the network. Old netbios stuff still laying around since the days of MSDOS.

[petec]

Indeed you can but here is what happens when there's confusion (I have a mix of Linux, W2003, XP, W7, etc - about > 40 and < 60 devices on the home network in all...) - for whatever reason even using MS tools browcon found some weird undefinable master browser that I could not decypher. I am not totally sure what actually caused it. I just noticed that the PC names started to disappear from the local group. Historically when that has occurred then the next part is that I cannot browse the group because of lack of permissions. I can still get to the shares though. Thinking about it; its happened before to me (before PBO) - just that I keep playing with the samba.conf file to "fix" my issues and it seemed to happen after my last "adjustment".

The master browser issue though shouldn't affect the PBO samba sharing service as you stated though.

The browser service has failed to retrieve the backup list too many times on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{ACB6E4F3-CBF7-441D-8E78-DF037C1BE9FC}. The backup browser is stopping.

The browser service was unable to retrieve a list of servers from the browser master \\XXXYYYZZZ on the network \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{ACB6E4F3-CBF7-441D-8E78-DF037C1BE9FC}.

Browser master: \\XXXYYYZZZ
Network: \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{ACB6E4F3-CBF7-441D-8E78-DF037C1BE9FC}

Here is what the Samba.conf looks like now

[global]
workgroup = mygroup
netbios name = myname
log file=/tmp/hdd/volumes/hdd1/log/log.%m
max log size=8000
log level = 3
domain logons=Yes
dns proxy=No
use sendfile=yes
guest account=root
encrypt passwords=yes
passdb backend=smbpasswd
socket options = TCP_NODELAY IPTOS_LOWDELAY SO_SNDBUF=8192 SO_RCVBUF=8192
read raw=yes
write raw=yes
oplocks=yes
max xmit=65535
dead time=30
getwd cache=yes
lpq cache=30
read prediction=yes
client NTLMv2 auth=yes

I was going to add this anyways

[global]
domain master = no
local master = no
preferred master = no
os level = 0