I think it'll be easier to understand when I'm at home in front of it... I'll let you know! Thanks again.

Think of it like this;

Share/User1/..
/User2/..
/User3/..
/Shared Files/..

vs

Share_User1/..
Share_User2/..
Share_User3/..
Share_Shared_Files/..

Either way you could map the share or folder as a network drive with either;

\\Tower\Share\User1
or
\\Tower\Share_User1

HTH

Thanks Mark.

As I thought, SMB was already enabled, set to Export read/write; I can't see AFP mentioned anywhere, there's just SMB and NFS. Do I need to install something else on UNRAID. I must say, my GUI is a bit crap compared with yours... Maybe it's because I've gone with the stable 4.7 version, not a fancy Dan 5.x?

For the shares, I've just given each family member a share name plus one that I imagined would be the hierarchical parent share, but could just as easily be the 'shared share'.

As yet I haven't assigned the parity drive, as it will add significantly to the time it takes to populate the array with data. I can cope with the security risk...

I'll try to assign the drive by mapping the network, but as my man-flu kicks in, I may fail dismally...

Excuses, excuses

There is no risk with your plan so long as you copy rather than move as you still have the original copy on the source drive.

If each user has their own shame thats probably a good option as you can limit size taken, permissions and which drives are used more easily than the other option.

If you using 4.7 that will explain no AFP as it was added later. Also your workgroup is probably "mshome" rather than "WORKGROUP" which will explain the other issue.

So, if I continue to use 4.7, does that mean I can't share the network drive with Macs? If so, I'll have to change... By the looks of the timescale, the 5.x versions have been in beta long enough to be stable, haven't they?

Not sure to be honest Jim. Dont use macs. I guess they can make use of samba so you should be able to?

As for stable ive always used 5.x and never had ayn issues other than with my own stupidity.

Jim,

Why do you want to use AFP:? are you trying to set it up for Time Machine?
Macs can map network shares on SMB:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1568?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Well, it's all up and running; In your face, those who scoff at my technical skillz!

The Mac can access the data via SMB (thanks Charlie).

It took a while to upload all the data, assign the parity drive and then to perform the parity check, but it's now sorted.

All I need to do now is set up some kind of VPN/web access so I can play my music from my ipad when I'm not at home! (Also, less frivolously, MrsC wants access to her pics)

Should be easy to do,

Sort out a DDNS, setup a VPN in router and then let port forwarding do the rest. (Hint use a static IP for the Storage system/RAID)

Yes, well, I asked for that...

How does one "sort out a DDNS"? Is it like jumble sale?

I have read that the Virgin superhub router I have can be bolshy when it comes to VPNs. How can I tell and, er, persuade it to cooperate?

If I have a fixed IP address, why do I need a DDNS?

As another FCCUK person might say: other foolish questions are available...

Jim,

http://www.noip.com/services/managed_dns/free_dynamic_dns.html explains DDNS,
Basically you get a web address that always links back to your home network. You are very unlikely to get a fixed Public (internet) IP, your ISP will allocate a DNS from it's pool of addresses, which means that one day you may be 84.23.22.12 and a week later you will be 84.23.22.255

The easiest way to think of this is that imagine you are trying to ring your home telephone but the number keeps changing, an almost impossible task.

A DDNS will for example allow you to have Jim.noip.us and no matter what IP address your ISP allocates, typing Jim.noip.us will take you to your network, (or more correctly to your router).

To accomplish this feat, the DDNS requires you to either run an app on your PC, or a modern router will let you enter the DDNS details and update automatically.

Virgin Superhub is a pile of poo, spend a few quid on an ASUS RT56 or even better RT66 and stick your Superhub in "modem only mode", thats what I have done. The Asus routers make setting up a VPN a breeze, port forwarding etc a breeze and get supported with lots of firmware upgrades.

The Fixed IP address is on your internal network, for example your router will be 192.168.1.1 then other devices will be allocated internal ip addresses dynamically (like your ISP does), same problem, you want to be able to enter Jim.noip.us and be taken to your storage

So setup the router to allocate certain "Mac addresses" to a specific internal ip address. (each network device has a mac address).

So for example my RT66 allocates my QNAP to always be 192.168.1.46, lets assume you will do the same

Now we need to set up the port forwarding on router. Select a port at random, for example,, 12123 now set up port forwarding to forward any requests for that port to 192.168.1.46

So now when you type Jim.noip.us:12123 you will be connected to your storage device.

I hope that makes sense?

Mick

Thanks Charlie, I think that makes sense. Sadly, a new router is not going to be on the menu, so unless I can get the VM superhub to play ball, the project ends here. For now, at least...

There shouldn't be a need to set the router to issue IP address by mac address. Just fix the IP address on the server, preferable to something outside the DCHP range to avoid possible conflicts.

Unraid also has a Dynamic DNS package which can be installed from the unmenu package manager (server_name:8080/pkg_manager) which you can use to fix your external address but heed the warning that come with the package.... Dont use it myself as I use dropbox for remote files.

Thanks Mark - I really ought to give credit where it's due, I wouldn't have embarked on the Unraid venture without your help, so many thanks.
I think the main issue I'll have is the Virgin Media superhub...

I have a spare Asus RT56, its surplus to requirements, we may be able to come to a deal http://www.asus.com/Networking/RTN56U/

Hi Jim, no worrys just hope its all working like you hoped.

I think unless your desperate to use VPN (which does have its benefits from what I understand) you should be fine with your superhub. Unraid can cover the DynDNS duties if needed and the super hub can do the port forwarding needed.

I know there are better router than the superhub, I've had several but I never used half the features to be honest. The superhub is fine for what I use tbh.

As I said i have no interest in web access as my unraid is purely for laptop backups and storing large media files, but if you want to look into it I will help where I can.

Make sure you have the R38 firmware on the Superhub. Personally I found it nothing but trouble. As is so often the case, ISPs go for the cheapest rather than the best Routers.
The ASUS routers are faster, have hardware NAT, better wireless range, faster WAN to LAN performance, and these are common features you would want.

The AI disk, the USB ports etc may not be 100% needed.

Here's an indication of my internet speed

This review of an early version of the RT56 makes for interesting reading
RT56 Review

Some info regarding port forwarding on the Superhub http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Up-t...ed/td-p/1289387

Not totally disagreeing Mick but as I said I have found the Superhub more than adequate for my needs.

I have had uprated routers with better range etc but they never really worked in my situation so I gain nothing. I may be able to eek some more performance but I don't really need to so its just another device to have in my living room.

Not saying this is the case for everyone, just me.

Thanks for the offer, charlie, but I've already overspent on this, so if I can use what I've got then I will.

Basically, I just want to be able to access files (music, photos and Office primarily) when I'm out and about - over wifi and 3G.

I don't have massive worries over security, as there's nothing sensitive on the disks, but obviously password protection would be essential.

I don't know what my options are, really. I understand just about what a VPN is, but if I don't need it and can just type in a URL and get what I want then all the better...

The security issue is not someone else seeing them, but some script kiddy erasing the lot...

If it's for playing music surely the security issue would be someone else seeing what (maybe) poor taste you have?

Hey, I wear my poor musical taste with pride. Often on T shirts.

I take your point, Neil.

There are plugins which may be off jse is you run v5.xx.

Theres a web based media server which might work.....

I seem to have set myself up for a fall...

On Tuesday morning, I switched off and unplugged the server (as well as all other cables for router, TV, etc) when it looked likely that storms were a-coming.
By the evening, everything had calmed down, so I plugged it all back in and got everything going again. Then, twice we had complete power black-outs for a second or so at a time and since then, it's been a nightmare.

I couldn't reach the "tower" (the name the unraid server calls itself) through the GUI on the laptop, so I couldn't power it down. Eventually, I just had to manually turn it off (I didn't have the console screen attached to work on the box directly).

Having forced a shutdown, I restarted it and had the same problem: I'd enter "//tower" intro firefox address bar and just be given google search results including Tower Records. Hugely frustrating.

Finally, I powered it down manually again, then took out the USB stick. I re-flashed this with the last working config I had saved on my laptop and put it back in and switched on.

Thankfully I reached the Tower and performed a clean shutdown.

I then left it switched off and unplugged until an electrician had been and checked our electrics yesterday (our lighting ring main had also gone on the fritz). So yesterday evening, I plugged everything back in and powered up... Still can't reach "//tower" or "tower:8080".

I reconnected the screen to the server and I can log on to the tower using the password, but without the GUI, I can't restart the array or perform a parity check or ensure the data is all safe.

I can't believe that losing power for a second twice can completely render this fubar.

Any ideas...?

First off look at the back on the Unraid and check a) the cables plugged in properly and b) there are lights flashing next to the port. Also check the BIOS for any changes

Directly on Unraid console type; ifconfig eth0

This should show a load of info regarding the network config including IP address unraid is using (eg inet addr:192.168.1.123)

Try typing the IP address into the browser of your choice. Does that work?

Thanks Hyperlink. I checked the cabling, which is fine and the network activity light flickers on the front of the box; I tried the ifconfig eth0 command and it brought back quite a lot of info, but nothing I recognised as an IP address. There was a hex number separated by colons or dots, but nothing obvious. I'll try again later...

I had another look, but I'm no closer to a solution; I found the IP address for the server from the router and when I input it to the browser address bar, it comes back with a page that just says: "It works!"

Still can't log in using //tower

I am afraid that I'll have to go through the whole configuration tutorial again and reconfigure the USB stick. But I would cry if I had to run preclear again and/or lose the data on the disks...

Have you tried \\tower\main ?

I have. Or rather //tower/main. Still no joy

Did you fix the IP address or is it using DHCP?