Easy sharing from a Windows Home Server to a Network Media Tank

[Specter]

Easy sharing from a Windows Home Server to a Network Media Tank.


In the Windows Home Server Console go to User Accounts and open the Guest Account properties.
Select enable the account, you may enter a password but problems might occur, i suggest that you leave it blank, hit next.
Select all the folders you would like the NMT to read files from and set the permissions to read. Do not choose full, if you do then anyone will be able to delete files from your server through the NMT simply by pressing the delete key on the remote. Now your done, you should be able to access the WHS from the PCH browser.



Now next is an advanced step for those that only want to map one network share and have access to everything in the shared folder (Videos, pictures, music, etc)


First Download and install the Advanced Admin Console addin for WHS, you can get that at Wegotserved.com
Go to the newly created tab and get to your D: drive, you can get there by selecting "show desktop" then go through My computer, then open the D: drive and enter the shares folder.

Right click on one of the folders that is shared by default such as Videos, Music or Pictures. Access the security tab and make note of the names listed RO_X (SERVERNAME\RO_X) and RO_X (SERVERNAME\RO_X). X is a varible letter that can be anything, for this walkthrough G will be used as it was the leter provided by default.
Go up one level back to the root of D:
From there, rightclick on the folder shares and select properties.

Select the Sharing tab. Check the radio box Share this folder, click apply.
Access the security tab and click add.

In the blank box type in RO_G then click check names, if all is right you should see RO_G (YOURSERVERNAME\RO_G)

Check only the boxes listed in the allow row

Code:

Read & Execute
List folder contents
Read

Click add again and type in RW_G then click check names, if all is right you should see RW_G (YOURSERVERNAME\RW_G)

Check all boxes in the allow box except Special permissions, it should be greyed out anyway.

Click ok to save, you might have to reboot in order for it to take effect.

Now when you go to map the shares on the NMT go to Network Share and browse to select your server, you will see a folder named shares.
Set the path to that folder.


If you map to the folder named shares and all is right, then anything you place under that folder will show up on the NMT network share even if subfolders are involved.

Now i know the question is why all this just for a share.
Well its simple, if you store your media under the default share paths on the WHS then you will only have to ever mount 1 share, and by doing this that share will always be mounted, so no matter which jukebox you use your share will always be mounted ready to play your media.


It works perfectly for me
Feedback is always welcome weather good or bad

[7twenty]

Fantastic info. Thanks.

FYI,there is a typo. The two users are RO_G and RW_G (not RO_W). Also you need to "share" the "shares" folder.

[Specter]

Typos fixed

Im happy it worked for someone else with a WHS. It eases the pain when using multiple jukeboxes and folcder locations.

[dbone1026]

When I try the steps WHS tells me that an object called "RO_G" cannot be found when I click Check Names The guest acount is enabled. Any thoughts?

[Specter]

You have to share the folder names shares first, i forgot that information .

On the WHS go to your D drive and locate the folder names shares.
Rightclick on it select properties, select the Sharing tab.
Check the radio box Share this folder, click apply.
Next go on to the security tab and continue with the RO_G name.


Ill edit the directions in the original thread with pictures , hope it helps.

Inform me if you have success.

[dbone1026]

(11-08-2009 11:22 PM)Specter Wrote:  You have to share the folder names shares first, i forgot that information .

On the WHS go to your D drive and locate the folder names shares.
Rightclick on it select properties, select the Sharing tab.
Check the radio box Share this folder, click apply.
Next go on to the security tab and continue with the RO_G name.


Ill edit the directions in the original thread.

Inform me if you have success.

I had already shared my Shares as you mentioned.

So to confirm (my shared folder is already set to share), I right click on the share folder (d, go to properties, go to security, click add, and then in the 3rd box doesn which says "Enter the object names to select" I type in RO_G and hit "Check Names".

This is what I do and I get the message "An object named RO_G cannot be found"

[Specter]

Thats strange, Im currently using a HPEX 485, are you using a different WHS? IF so locate one of the shared folders thats shared by default such as the Videos or Music folders.

Right click on the folder, and go to the security tab, check to see if the RO_G (SERVERNAME\RO_G) and RW_G (SERVERNAME\RW_G) is listed.

If not what names are listed?

[dbone1026]

(11-09-2009 12:40 AM)Specter Wrote:  Thats strange, Im currently using a HPEX 485, are you using a different WHS? IF so locate one of the shared folders thats shared by default such as the Videos or Music folders.

Right click on the folder, and go to the security tab, check to see if the RO_G (SERVERNAME\RO_G) and RW_G (SERVERNAME\RW_G) is listed.

If not what names are listed?

I am using a DIY WHS build. Thanks for the tip, looks like mine is called RO_I and RW_I, instead of _G. Working now, thanks. Maybe mention in your steps how to confirm the correct letter to use, otherwise great writeup!!!

Also, if you don't mind I may highlight this setup over on http://www.mediasmartserver.net when I have a chance to do a quick writeup on the blog.

[Specter]

(11-09-2009 01:01 AM)dbone1026 Wrote:  I am using a DIY WHS build. Thanks for the tip, looks like mine is called RO_I and RW_I, instead of _G. Working now, thanks. Maybe mention in your steps how to confirm the correct letter to use, otherwise great writeup!!!

Also, if you don't mind I may highlight this setup over on http://www.mediasmartserver.net when I have a chance to do a quick writeup on the blog.

Sure, you can highlight it over at mediasmartserver.net , its always great to pass the knowledge along.

Happy it worked out for you, ill make some changes to check a default shared folder then use the RO_* and RW_* listed in its properties for the rest of the process .

[dboss]

Thanks! This is very, very useful. I haven't been using the default folders on my MSS because the NMT wasn't able to mount all of the defaulted folders.

[Specter]

(11-09-2009 02:12 AM)dboss Wrote:  Thanks! This is very, very useful. I haven't been using the default folders on my MSS because the NMT wasn't able to mount all of the defaulted folders.

No problem, just let me know if it worked for you with the instructions provided or did you have to do anything extra

[schrooms]

Very good info, but I went a little different route to just use one share point for the WHS.
I created a new directory under shares and called it "Media" and shared that folder, then under that created the individual folders for "Video", "Music" "Photo" etc. This way I did not see the "Public" and "Software" Folders on the PCH which I had no use for.
Works fine for my use.

[dogmatique]

(11-09-2009 04:17 AM)schrooms Wrote:  Very good info, but I went a little different route to just use one share point for the WHS.
I created a new directory under shares and called it "Media" and shared that folder, then under that created the individual folders for "Video", "Music" "Photo" etc. This way I did not see the "Public" and "Software" Folders on the PCH which I had no use for.
Works fine for my use.

I tried that too, all went well, visible on the PCH, but... when I tried to copy files to it from my computer over the network it wouldn't let me! Couldn't see any obvious difference with the permissions - tried sharing one of the folders within the folder tree I'd created, still no dice... dammit...

[dbone1026]

I forgot to link, here is my writeup of Specter's guide over on mediasmartserver.net:

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2009/11/...-from-whs/

Also, for anyone who wants to try out NFS:

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2009/12/...fs-in-whs/

[schrooms]

(12-16-2009 10:55 PM)dogmatique Wrote:  I tried that too, all went well, visible on the PCH, but... when I tried to copy files to it from my computer over the network it wouldn't let me! Couldn't see any obvious difference with the permissions - tried sharing one of the folders within the folder tree I'd created, still no dice... dammit...

Not sure what the problem could be but I copy files without a problem.
If you are using the "Guest" account in the Home Server Console set it to "Full" for the folder you are sharing.