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Optional: Installing Samba for Windows Network Access
Samba is optional in this Media Manager setup, but highly recommended if:
- You use Windows and want to browse your media files easily
- You want to manually adjust or inspect downloaded files
- You want to drag-and-drop subtitles, rename files, or fix issues directly
- You want the flexibility of mounting your media as a network drive
If you only ever access files through Plex, ARR apps, or the Linux shell, then Samba is not required.
🧩 Why Samba Might Be Needed
Although Radarr, Sonarr, and Bazarr automate nearly everything, there are situations where manual file access is useful:
- Fixing incorrectly tagged files
- Manual subtitle adjustments
- Deleting or replacing corrupted media
- Organizing large folders
- Backing up media manually
On Linux or macOS, this can be done easily over SSH.
On Windows, the easiest way is via Samba (SMB) network shares.
💠 What Samba Does
Samba exposes directories on your Raspberry Pi/Linux server as Windows-compatible network drives.
It allows you to access:
/mnt/omnissiah-vault
from Windows like:
Z:\ → Omnissiah-Vault
This behaves like a native Windows drive:
- You can open files
- Copy folders
- Delete/rename items
- Perform maintenance tasks
📦 Installation Script (Optional)
If you want Samba on your server, use the following script:
👉 see script: scripts/install-samba.sh
This script:
- Installs Samba
- Shares your mounted directories
- Secures access to your user only (no guest access)
- Creates Samba credentials
- Enables the smbd/nmbd daemons
🖥️ Windows Setup — Mapping the Network Drive
Once Samba is active, you can connect from Windows.
1. Open File Explorer
Press:
Win + E
2. Click This PC
3. Click Map network drive in the top ribbon
(If hidden, click the three-dot menu.)
4. Choose a drive letter
Example:
Z:
5. In the folder field, enter your Samba share
\\<server-ip>\Omnissiah-Vault
Example:
\\192.168.1.50\Omnissiah-Vault
6. Check Reconnect at sign-in
So Windows auto-remounts the drive.
7. Check Connect using different credentials
Enter the username and password created during Samba setup:
Username: aetos
Password: <your-samba-password>
Click Finish.
You should now see the drive appear in Explorer like a normal disk.
🧰 You Can Also Map via Command Line
Open PowerShell and run:
net use Z: \\<server-ip>\Omnissiah-Vault /user:aetos
🔐 Security Notes
- Samba exposes your filesystem over the network → keep your password strong.
- Never enable
guest ok = yesunless you want an open share. - Use UFW or firewall-cmd to restrict access if needed.
📝 Summary
Samba is optional but extremely convenient, especially for Windows users.
Use it if:
- You manage files manually
- You want drag-and-drop access to media
- You want Windows Explorer to treat the server like a normal drive
Skip it if:
- Everything happens via automation
- You only use Plex and ARR
- You manage your server exclusively from Linux/Mac
Proceed to the next step when ready.