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Network Storage

Contents

Introduction

Some GL.iNet models support MicroSD(TF) card, some models have USB port and support USB flash drive and portable external hard drive, you can set up Samba, WebDAV, DLNA on this page for the disk.

The supported disk formats are NTFS, FAT32.

Note: The power consumption of USB hard drive is quite high. You should use it with an external power supply. Otherwise, it may cause malfunction.

Note: Some models have USB Port/MicroSD slot but have limited storage space and do not support file sharing.

Supported models

Usually models with USB ports or MicroSD(TF) slots are supported for file sharing. For devices with Flash space less than or equal to 32MB, the Network Storage function is not yet supported and is still being developed and optimized.

Router Model Samba Webdav DLNA USB Port MicroSD Card
GL-MT6000 (Flint2) -
GL-XE3000 (Puli AX)
GL-X3000 (Spitz AX)
GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX) -
GL-AXT1800 (Slate AX)
GL-A1300 (Slate Plus) -
GL-MT2500/GL-MT2500A (Brume 2) -
GL-S1300 (Convexa-S) -
GL-AX1800 (Flint) -
GL-MV1000/GL-MV1000W (Brume)

Insert Storage Device

For TF card, you need to power off the router first, insert the TF card and then power on the router.

For USB Drive, you can directly plug it into the USB port. For portable external hard drive, if you have a separate power supply, please connect it to the power supply.

Go to web Admin Panel -> APPLICATIONS -> Network Storage

network storage

When a disk is found.

network storage, disk found

Set Up Samba

  1. Toggle on to enable Samba, for other parameters, please refer to the following, then click Apply.

    • Allow Access WebDAV from WAN, enable it if you want the upstream devices can access the WebDAV.

    enable samba

  2. Then let's set up to get the shared link. When a disk is detected, a link of Quick Setup Share is displayed. Click Quick Setup Share.

    samba quick setup share

  3. Add a user. This step will be skipped if you already have an account. Then click Next.

    samba quick setup share, add a user

  4. Click the triangel icon to show all folders, select a folder for sharing. Or click the disk1_part1 to share whole disk. Then click Next.

    samba quick setup share, add shared folder

  5. Shared folder settings.

    For security reasons, we do not recommend enabling Anonymous Access.

    The user you just created will be added to Read-Only User by default. If you want this account to be able to write or delete files, you can remove it from Read-Only User and add it to Writable User. Click Apply.

    samba quick setup share, shared folder settings

  6. Folder access link. It shows the link for Windows and Unix-link OS. The Unix-like system include Android, iOS, macOS, Ubuntu etc. Then please try to access the Samba on various OS, check out here.

    Note: If you enabled Allow Access Samba from WAN and access from WAN, you need to replace the Router IP (default 192.168.8.1) in the figure below with WAN IP which can be found in the INTERNET page.

    samba quick setup share, folder access link


Set Up WebDAV

  1. Toggle on to enable WebDAV, for other parameters, please refer to the following, then click Apply.

    • Allow Access WebDAV from WAN, enable it if you want the upstream devices can access the WebDAV.

    • WebDAV Protocol, HTTP is not encrypted, using on your risk; HTTPS is encrypted, it uses self signed certificate.

    • WebDAV Port, generally you do not need to modify the port number unless it is conflicts. Port number range 1024 - 65535.

    enable webdav

  2. Then let's set up to get the shared link. When a disk is detected, a link of Quick Setup Share is displayed. Click Quick Setup Share.

    enable webdav

  3. Add a user. This step will be skipped if you already have an account. Then click Next.

    webdav quick setup share, add a user

  4. Click the triangel icon to show all folders, select a folder for sharing. Or click the disk1_part1 to share whole disk. Then click Next.

    webdav quick setup share, add shared folder

  5. Shared folder settings.

    For security reasons, we do not recommend enabling Anonymous Access.

    The user you just created will be added to Read-Only User by default. If you want this account to be able to write or delete files, you can remove it from Read-Only User and add it to Writable User. Click Apply.

    webdav quick setup share, shared folder settings

  6. Folder access link. It shows the link for Windows and Unix-link OS. The Unix-like system include Android, iOS, macOS, Ubuntu etc. Then please try to access the WebDAV on various OS, check out here.

    Note: If you enabled Allow Access WebDAV from WAN and access from WAN, you need to replace the Router IP (default 192.168.8.1) in the figure below with WAN IP which can be found in the INTERNET page.

    webdav quick setup share, folder access link


Set Up DLNA

Toggle to enable DLNA, modify Share Path if needed, click Apply. That is it.

network storage, enable dlna

Connect your smart TV to the router, it will find the DLNA Server.


Samba Client

Here is an example of Windows 11, Windows 10 is similar.

Open up File Explorer and then right-click on This PC (in the left pane). From the resulting context menu, select Show more options -> Add a network location

windows 11 add network location

Click Choose a custom network location and then click Next.

windows 11 add network location

Enter the Samba access link. Then click Next.

windows 11 add network location

Give a name of this location. Click Next.

windows 11 add network location

Click Finish.

windows 11 add network location

If it need username and password, it will ask to enter the credential. Then click OK.

windows 11 add network location

You can access Samba by the Finder.

Open up the Finder and click Go -> Connect to Server on the menu. Copy & paste the Samba access link.

network storage, mac os finder connect to server

It will ask for the username and password, the username is when you setup Shared Folder Settings.

If you set up anonymous access, please choose Guest in the image below.

network storage, mac os finder connect to server username password

Click Continue, it will show the Samba on the sidebar of Finder.

network storage, mac os finder samba connected

There are many Android apps that support Samba, here is an example of Cx File Explorer.

At the home page, click NETWORK.

cx file explorer home page

Click New Location.

cx file explorer home page

Click SMB.

cx file explorer home page

Input the Host, Username, Password. If is Anonymous Access, please check the Anonymous.

cx file explorer home page

iOS Files app support Samba, or you can use other apps, for example Documents.

The next section describes how to connect to Samba using Files app and Documents app respectively.

  • Guide of connect to Samba server by Files app.

    Open the Files app. It's installed by default so you should find it on your home screen. As Files is now a removable app, you might need to reinstall it from the App Store if it doesn't show up.

    search files on iphone

    Make sure you're on the Browse tab at the bottom of the screen. Tap the "…" (three dots) icon in the top-right to display the app's context menu.

    ios files set up SMB

    Tap the Connect to Server option near the top of the menu. On the next screen, enter your server's connection url. You can find the url in Shared Link. Tap the Next button in the top-right to continue.

    ios files set up SMB

    The following screen lets you enter authentication credentials if you'll be connecting to a protected network share. Tap Registered User and fill out the Name and Password fields with your Samba username and password. You can tap "Guest" instead if you enable the Anonymous Access.

    ios files set up SMB

    Press the Next button in the top-right to complete the connection. Your iOS device should successfully connect to the server and display a list of available shares.

    ios files set up SMB

    The Samba share will be listed at the bottom of menu, underneath the Shared heading.

    ios files set up SMB

  • Guide of connect to Samba server by Documents app.

    Click the plus button in the lower right corner.

    documents samba

    Click Add Connection.

    documents samba

    Click Windows SMB.

    documents samba

    The Title is for a name of this connection. URL is the access link. Login is the username. If is anonymous access, just leave Login and Password empty.

    Click Done button to complete this setup.

    documents samba

WebDAV Client

There is a lot of software that supports WebDAV, for example RaiDrive, Cyberduck, WinSCP.

Here is an example of RaiDrive.

Click Add.

RaiDrive WebDAV

In the Storage area, click NAS -> WebDAV.

In the Address area, check/uncheck the checkbox near Address to switch https/http, enter the address.

In the Account area, enter username and password, or check the Anonymous.

Finally, click Connect, it will add a X drive in the File Explorer.

RaiDrive WebDAV

There is a lot of app that supports WebDAV, for example FE File Explorer, Cyberduck.

Here is an example of FE File Explorer.

Click Add button.

FE File Explorer WebDAV

Select WebDAV.

FE File Explorer WebDAV

Enter connection settings. If is anonymous access, just leave User Name and Password empty. Then clidk Save & Connect.

FE File Explorer WebDAV

It may has a warning says The following secure server (null) uses an untrusted certificate. Trust this server?, that is because it use self signed certificate, please trust it.

There are many iOS apps that support WebDAV, here is an example of Cx File Explorer.

Note: Cx File Explorer doesn't support anonymous access.

At the home page, click NETWORK.

cx file explorer home page

Click New Location.

cx file explorer home page

Click WebDAV.

cx file explorer home page

Input the Host, Port, Username, Password.

cx file explorer home page

There are many iOS apps that support WebDAV, here is an example of Documents.

Click the plus button in the lower right corner.

documents WebDAV

Click Add Connection.

documents WebDAV

Click WebDAV Server.

documents WebDAV

The Title is for a name of this connection. URL is the access link. Login is the username.

Click Done button to complete this setup.

documents WebDAV


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