Accessing videos on network shares

[jeffmart]

still cannot browse to the network
Network always returns invalid directory and SMB:\\\\

[davidk21770]

Sorry to resume this very old thread.
But this is where I am too...
I've researched the heck out of the problem and haven't stumbled on the solution yet.

Synology NAS DS418j

My NAS must be secured -- it's used an internet file server and I do have some sensitive files on it. So it's configured to wrap insecure requests to secure requests (http --> https).

I can map it to my windows machine, access it via explorer and via unc from the commandline -- but sage doesn't see it. I just get smb://// Invalid Directory or if I specify the path (\\...NAS\homes\TVRecordings -- which works from the commandline, etc.) it asks if I want to create the subdir (it exists) and fails if I tell it to try.

I tried adding a sagetv user with my sage password figuring that I could limit it's access to just the TVRecordings folder (maybe <sigh>) -- but that doesn't work either.

I haven't tried making sagetv an administrator (scary thought ).

[JustFred]

Sage doesn't use HTTP nor HTTPS to access a NAS, so that's a moot issue.

Assuming you're using the SageTv Service, maybe this?

From the SageTv User Manual, pg 16/17:

Accessing Network Drives with the SageTV Service
If you wish to have SageTV access any network drives, keep in mind that a service cannot access mapped drives, therefore network drives must be configured in SageTV as UNC Paths. See Detailed Setup: General Settings regarding configuring video and media center import directories.

UNC paths use a format of: \\ServerName\ShareName\DirectoryName, where ServerName is the network name of the PC (or NAS) to be accessed, ShareName is the name of the shared path on the networked PC, and DirectoryName is the name of the subdirectory below the shared location.

Note: As mentioned above in the description of the SageTV Service Control application, the service must be configured to use a User account (not LocalSystem) in order to access UNC paths on the network. The user account must have a password or else the service will be unable to start. To create or change a user account in Windows, go to the Control Panel and run the application to control user accounts and passwords. Also, make sure that the shared network directories grant write permission, or else SageTV will not be able to store any recordings.
-------

In short, there are 3 requirements:

1) On the NAS, a user/password with access to the share
2) On Windows, an identically named user account & password, matching that on the NAS
3) On Windows, the SageTv Service must be set to "Log On as" and "this account", using the above username & password.

[davidk21770]

Originally Posted by JustFred

Sage doesn't use HTTP nor HTTPS to access a NAS, so that's a moot issue.

Assuming you're using the SageTv Service, maybe this?

From the SageTv User Manual, pg 16/17:

Accessing Network Drives with the SageTV Service
If you wish to have SageTV access any network drives, keep in mind that a service cannot access mapped drives, therefore network drives must be configured in SageTV as UNC Paths. See Detailed Setup: General Settings regarding configuring video and media center import directories.

UNC paths use a format of: \\ServerName\ShareName\DirectoryName, where ServerName is the network name of the PC (or NAS) to be accessed, ShareName is the name of the shared path on the networked PC, and DirectoryName is the name of the subdirectory below the shared location.

Note: As mentioned above in the description of the SageTV Service Control application, the service must be configured to use a User account (not LocalSystem) in order to access UNC paths on the network. The user account must have a password or else the service will be unable to start. To create or change a user account in Windows, go to the Control Panel and run the application to control user accounts and passwords. Also, make sure that the shared network directories grant write permission, or else SageTV will not be able to store any recordings.
-------

In short, there are 3 requirements:

1) On the NAS, a user/password with access to the share
2) On Windows, an identically named user account & password, matching that on the NAS
3) On Windows, the SageTv Service must be set to "Log On as" and "this account", using the above username & password.

Thanks!
I had done each of these . But, to make really sure I redid each and it's now working! I'm not sure which I overlooked or which redo made the difference -- but with this list, I knew exactly what to do.
Edit: (And I knew that I could remove the sagetv user -- the user matching my computer was already there)

Edit2: It may be my machine has an offbeat configuration or it may be needed, but for playback I needed to map a drive letter with with both explorer and using an administrator command prompt using "net use <same drive letter> //...NAS/homes /persistent:yes /user:<mycomputer>\<my logon>
Later... this may have to do with the fact that I'm using SMB3?