USB Hard drive dock with network capability

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › USB Hard drive dock with network capability - would it work for me?

geekIT

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#235990 12-May-2018 16:44

I've been trying to find out if there's such a thing as a USB hard drive dock with network capability.

Reason I want it: I have a Kodi box connected to my TV. The Kodi has a USB port that I can feed with media from either a memory stick or a USB dock containing a hard drive.

But the Kodi is proving difficult to link to my hardwired Windows network.

I was sent this link: https://www.amazon.com/HighPoint-RocketStor-5411D-Expansion-Charging/dp/B00PJO53VI

It occurred to me that this gadget might do the job, acting as a direct source of media for the Kodi, while enabling my networked computers to modify the contents of the docked drive.

Comments?

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#2014831 12-May-2018 17:08

Why not just get network attached storage?

farcus

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#2014838 12-May-2018 17:28

set up an smb share on your "windows network". Shouldn't be hard to connect to from Kodi.
Alternatively, set up a dlna share on your "windows network". That also should be straight forward to find using Kodi.

But yes . . . the best choice (and the one I use) is a NAS drive.

geekIT

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#2015105 13-May-2018 13:16

I don't have any version of the SMB protocol on my W7 Ultimate 64bit pc. It's not listed in 'Windows Features' and there's no trace of it in the Registry. Annoyingly, I can't find any information about how to reinstate it. Oh, there are webpages about 'How to Enable or Disable SMB1,2,3' etc but I defy anyone who isn't a high level geek to understand the instructions.

Regarding NAS, aren't these gizmos just HDD boxes with their own server software?

I installed one for a lawyer customer some years back but that was the only time I've ever handled one.

I not that they're not cheap though. Which is why I asked the question about the High-Point dock.

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

richms

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#2015107 13-May-2018 13:20

SMB is built into windows. Its "client for microsoft networks" and "file and printer sharing for microsoft networks" - if those are ticked and you have the computers location set to home or work then you are good to go accessing SMB shares in most cases. There was some problems with versions of it but nothing seems to do the old blocked versions anymore in anycase.

Richard rich.ms

geekIT

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#2015221 13-May-2018 16:09

richms: SMB is built into windows. Its "client for microsoft networks" and "file and printer sharing for microsoft networks" - if those are ticked and you have the computers location set to home or work then you are good to go accessing SMB shares...

Hmm. Both 'Client for Microsoft Networks' and 'File and Printer Sharing' are checked in the properties of the Local Area Connection Network.

But there's no sign of any SMB protocols in Windows Features.

Which apparently points to the protocols not being available.

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

andrewNZ

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#2015225 13-May-2018 16:24

Stop looking for SMB in windows, they only call it that. It's there and it's on already.

geekIT

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#2015234 13-May-2018 16:50

Then why doesn't the Kodi box see the sharing capability?

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geekIT

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#2015237 13-May-2018 16:55

Look at this:

"To enable or disable SMBv2 on the SMB server, configure the following registry key:Registry subkey:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\ParametersRegistry entry: SMB2"

There's no such entry in my registry. Does your show SMB2 in the Lanman Parameters. Mine does not.

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'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

andrewNZ

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#2015240 13-May-2018 17:05

How are you searching for the machine in Kodi? Machine name or IP address?

Can another windows device see the share?

Ive had best results in the past by:
Disability password protected sharing
Giving access to the user "everyone"

farcus

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#2015254 13-May-2018 17:30

you are making something difficult that shouldn't be difficult.
I haven't used windows for a long time but it should be as simple as sharing a folder in your homegroup. (right click folder and choose advanced sharing)
Then in Kodi going to add videos > browse > Windows Share (smb)
and adding the folder with your media files.

As for a NAS drive . . . they don't necessarily need to be exensive.
I currently use one of these to hold all my media for viewing via OSMC (kodi) on my raspberry Pi
https://goo.gl/vHcFgV

It works very well. The only disappointment for me as a linux user is that this NAS doesn't support nfs shares (at least with the default factory firmware).

geekIT

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#2015277 13-May-2018 17:58

Guys, I've always had my W7 systems shared as fully as possible, probably more so than necessary. Three towers and three laptops link instantly with each other, wired and wireless, with no issues or problems.

So the problem isn't in that area.

And re Farcus: "Then in Kodi going to add videos > browse > Windows Share (smb) and adding the folder with your media files"...

I've done exactly that. Many, many times. Kodi can see my workgroup, which has a distinctive name, as well as the generic 'WORKGROUP'. But telling it to look any further into either of those just gets the same message - 'Invalid argument'.

The guy who markets the Kodi box keeps telling me I need an 'SMB' share, but is unable to tell me how to do that.

All I know is that I don't appear to have any of the three SMB protocols in my systems.

If any of you can tell me where to look - i.e., where you think your SMB protocols are located on your own systems - tell me and I'll check mine. But I'm sure I don't have 'em.

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

farcus

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#2015280 13-May-2018 18:02

geekIT:

Guys, I've always had my W7 systems shared as fully as possible, probably more so than necessary. Three towers and three laptops link instantly with each other, wired and wireless, with no issues or problems.

So the problem isn't in that area.

And re Farcus: "Then in Kodi going to add videos > browse > Windows Share (smb) and adding the folder with your media files"...

I've done exactly that. Many, many times. Kodi can see my workgroup, which has a distinctive name, as well as the generic 'WORKGROUP'. But telling it to look any further into either of those just gets the same message - 'Invalid argument'.

The guy who markets the Kodi box keeps telling me I need an 'SMB' share, but is unable to tell me how to do that.

All I know is that I don't appear to have any of the three SMB protocols in my systems.

If any of you can tell me where to look - i.e., where you think your SMB protocols are located on your own systems - tell me and I'll check mine. But I'm sure I don't have 'em.

as other have said . . . smb is already in windows and active. smb = windows networking protocol.

You could try going into kodi setting > services > smb protocol and setting max smb protocol to v1 and then try again.

gzt

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#2015281 13-May-2018 18:03

You enable network sharing and windows sorts all that out for you.

gzt

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#2015283 13-May-2018 18:10

If you are already sharing files then you are doing that with smb already without knowing about it.

Which smb versions does the kodi box support?

richms

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#2015306 13-May-2018 19:19

I know that windows did have something recently to disable really old insecure versions of SMB happening, so perhaps that has happened and kodi cant do anything now? I havent used my android box with kodi on it for ages but may get it out and try again sometime.

Richard rich.ms

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