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Optional: Installing Samba for Windows Network Access

While Samba setup is not mandatory for this Media Manager system, it’s highly recommended if you want easier access to your media files from Windows machines or other devices on your network.

Here’s why you might want to consider Samba:

  • You use Windows and want to browse your media files through File Explorer effortlessly.
  • You prefer to manage downloaded files manually—like dragging subtitles into folders, renaming movies, or cleaning up files directly.
  • You want to have the media storage appear as a network drive for quick access anytime.

If you mainly interact with your media through Plex, Radarr, Sonarr, or the Linux terminal, Samba is not essential.

Why Samba Can Be Useful

Despite the automation provided by Radarr, Sonarr, and Bazarr, there are times when manual access is needed:

  • Fixing files that didn’t tag correctly
  • Adjusting subtitles
  • Removing or replacing problematic media
  • Organizing your library beyond automation
  • Taking backups of your media collection

On Linux or macOS, SSH provides a way to do this. But Windows users benefit most from Samba shares, which map your server’s drive like a regular Windows network folder.

What Samba Does

Samba turns your Raspberry Pi or Linux server’s storage into Windows-friendly network shares.

For example, the folder:

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/mnt/omnissiah-vault

Can be used from Windows like:

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Z:\  → Omnissiah-Vault

This means in Windows:

  • You can open and play files
  • Copy and move folders as usual
  • Rename and delete files directly
  • Manage your media easily without logging into the server

⚙️ Installation Script

This script will:

  • Install the Samba server software
  • Share your mounted media directories securely
  • Set up user authentication (no open guest access)
  • Enable Samba system services (smbd and nmbd) for automatic startup

📥 Download Script

👉 install-samba.sh

🚀 After Installation

Once Samba is set up and running on your server, you can connect from your Windows computer:

  1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
  2. Click on This PC on the left pane.
  3. Click Map network drive from the ribbon menu (or use the three-dot menu if it’s hidden).
  4. Choose a drive letter, such as Z:.

  5. Enter the network folder path in this format:

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    \\<server-ip>\Omnissiah-Vault

    Example:

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    \\192.168.1.50\Omnissiah-Vault
    6. Check Reconnect at sign-in to automatically mount the drive each time you log in.
    7. Check Connect using different credentials and enter the Samba username/password created during setup. For example:
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    Username: aetos
Password: <your-samba-password>
    8. Click Finish. Your media drive will appear in File Explorer like any normal disk.

You can also map it via PowerShell:

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net use Z: \\<server-ip>\Omnissiah-Vault /user:aetos

Security Tips

  • Samba shares your files over the network. Use strong passwords and never enable guest (anonymous) access unless you want an open share.
  • Use firewall tools (UFW, firewall-cmd) to restrict access to trusted devices only.

Summary

Samba is a handy optional addition that makes your media drive easily accessible on Windows and other devices, allowing drag-and-drop ease and manual file management.

Choose Samba if you:
- Want direct, seamless Windows access to media files
- Regularly manage or adjust files manually
- Prefer using network shares over command-line or Plex only

Skip installing Samba if you:
- Do everything through Plex or media automation apps
- Manage the server via Linux or macOS only
- Don’t need manual file access on other devices