\\Raspberrypi only way to 'see' my Pi in Windows Explorer...

[Valid8r]

So I'm trying to find/discover my pi on my local WiFi network. I've installed Samba and read hundreds of posts regarding configuring my smb.conf file (many of which contradict each other). I have a Win7, a Win10 and a Mac laptop on my home WiFi network.

When I run Win Explorer on either of the two Windows laptops, I 'see' every machine in my network except my pi. The only way I can actually find my pi and get it to show up in the Win Explorer is to enter the hostname of \\raspberrypi in the Explorer address bar - after which my raspberry pi shows up and I can access the files and folders of my pi.

What is it that makes a device discoverable by Win Explorer??? (my chromecast and roku show up as devices in my Win Explorer)

All help is appreciated.

[DougieLawson]

Get a copy of FING, that will scan your network and find your Raspberry (if it's online).

https://www.fingbox.com/features

[Valid8r]

Get a copy of FING, that will scan your network and find your Raspberry (if it's online).

https://www.fingbox.com/features

Hi Doug - once scanned, will Win Explorer then be able to find it? If not I might as well just browse for \\raspberrypi right?

Thanks,
Jon

[n3tm4n]

Hi,

Can you post the share section of the /etc/samba/smb.conf file so we can take a look. Please ensure you obscure any secret information in your post.

Typically, the shares will be listed with square brackets eg.

[public]

With the relevant smb.conf information we may be able to suggest a solution.

Regards Jon.

[DougieLawson]

If you know the IP address for your RPi you can use \\192.168.ppp.ppp\sharename in WinExplorer.

[Valid8r]

Hi,

Can you post the share section of the /etc/samba/smb.conf file so we can take a look. Please ensure you obscure any secret information in your post.

Typically, the shares will be listed with square brackets eg.

[public]

With the relevant smb.conf information we may be able to suggest a solution.

Regards Jon.

Thanks for asking and hopefully your review and comments. Here is my smb.conf file - note I've stripped out most of the comment lines. This is primarily the file that comes with the latest Debian...

Sample configuration file for the Samba suite for Debian GNU/Linux.
======================= Global Settings =======================
[global]
workgroup = WORKGROUP
dns proxy = no
log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
max log size = 1000
syslog = 0
panic action = /usr/share/samba/panic-action %d
server role = standalone server
passdb backend = tdbsam
obey pam restrictions = yes
unix password sync = yes
passwd program = /usr/bin/passwd %u
passwd chat = Enter\snew\s\spassword:* %n\n Retype\snew\s\spassword:* %n\n password\supdated\ssuccessfully .
pam password change = yes
map to guest = bad user
[homes]
comment = Home Directories
browseable = no
read only = yes
create mask = 0700
directory mask = 0700
valid users = %S
[printers]
comment = All Printers
browseable = no
path = /var/spool/samba
printable = yes
guest ok = no
read only = yes
create mask = 0700
[print$]
comment = Printer Drivers
path = /var/lib/samba/printers
browseable = yes
read only = yes
guest ok = no
[Home NAS]
comment = Shared Folder
path = /media/NASHDD1/shares (((note: this is the actual path to my pi folder mount and share folder)))
force user = pi
guest ok = yes
valid users = @users
force group = users
create mask = 0660
directory mask = 0771
read only = no

[n3tm4n]

I'm definately no Samba expert, but if you try setting the browseable parameter eg.

Code: Select all

browseable = yes

under your main NAS share and/or the homes section to see if is then browseable on the network. You will have to restart Samba for the settings to take affect.

I don't know what the default is, but the only share you have configured as browseable is the share with a $ at then end, which means it is a hidden share.

If that doesn't work, reply back to the thread and let us know - maybe a Samba expert out there can through their 2 cents in.

HTH Jon.

[Valid8r]

N3 - thanks for this... I will add the "browsable = yes" to my .conf file and try it out tonight.

Jon