CIFS not showing in Windows

[Chris230291]

Hello. I have been running FreeNas for a long time now and I'm finally trying to sort out a niggly problem that's been present from day one. The problem is that my CIFS share does not appear under the networks tab in Windows Explorer.

I have a static IP for the server and I can access the share no problem manually (have the folders in it mapped). But how do I get it to show automatically in Windows? It was more of an annoyance before but now I need this functionality because certain apps cant see mapped drives.

I have tried renaming the share with no spaces, changing the group name and also checked if a value in Windows registry was set to "0" (saw it mentioned elsewhere). None of these things appeared to make a difference. I did start and stop the service between changes and rebooted Windows. I can see the share in OS X, so I guess it's either a Windows issue or something I need to change in the shares settings?

Can anyone help me with this?

Cheers,
Chris.

 

[dlavigne]

Which version of FreeNAS? Which version of Windows?

 

[Chris230291]

FreeNAS-9.1.1-RELEASE-x64 (a752d35)
Windows 8.1

Cheers.

 

[Chris230291]

I updated to 9.2.0 today and it still doesn't show up. Can anybody suggest a fix?

Thanks,
Chris.

 

[warri]

"Browsable to Network Clients" is activated?

 

[Chris230291]

Thanks for the reply. Yes I have that checked. Is there anything else I can try?

Chris.

 

[SmallGuy]

This a "innovation" of windows 8.1
You have to enter manually the path:
On windows search 'computer'
Clic on 'connect a network drive'
Then you can choose a letter and enter the path
\\Freenas_name\share_name
Tic 'reconnect at logon'.

That's it.

Edit: Google it you will find more details.

 

[Chris230291]

Hello SmallGuy. This is what I have already done, but I need it to appear in network for some apps to see the share. I can't connect to the shares through some apps if I just have them mapped.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[coolex]

Hello all.

I have the same problem. I realized that after creating a new share (using FreeNAS webgui) no new directory was created on the unix system. I logged on FreeNAS using ssh and tried to find the directory (/mnt/[volume]/[share]) for the share I just created. After creating the directory manually (mkdir command) it finally appeared in the windows explorer.

I expected that the directory is going to be created automatically after adding a share on the webgui. I tried it with and without running the CIFS service.

 

[pirateghost]

Creating a share only creates a network path name for whatever directory you point the share path to.

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

[coolex]

That means each time I want to create a new share I have to create a directory manually (e.g. using shell) before? FreeNAS does not create it, right?

 

[pirateghost]

That means each time I want to create a new share I have to create a directory manually (e.g. using shell) before? FreeNAS does not create it, right?

That's why I use datasets. Or you can share out the root of your directories and create the folder from any machine.

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

[coolex]

Are there datasets for UFS? Couldn't find any infos.

 

[gpsguy]

Sorry, datasets are a ZFS feature


Sent from my phone

 

[coolex]

Ok, that means for UFS there is no other way than creating the directories manually?

 

[cyberjock]

Datasets =/= Directories.

You can go to the CLI and make as many directories as you want on UFS.

 

[pirateghost]

Datasets =/= Directories.

You can go to the CLI and make as many directories as you want on UFS.

Also as I mentioned the root of volume can be shared out and directories added as you wish.

Datasets are not directories but having them makes creating cifs and NFS shares much simpler being able to do everything from the web GUI.

Sent from my Nexus 5