[Gemini6]

System Specs

Operating System – Linux Lite	Linux Lite 5.2
CPU / Processor	intel core i7
Memory (RAM)	8 GB
Storage	mSATA SSD
Graphics (GPU)	integrated
Network device	Buffalo Link Station Mini

Hello, I am trying to access a NAS (Buffalo Link Station Mini) on my local network, as for now I cannot... I am wondering if someone can give me some help..

My setup is very simple. All my computers are connected to my router, and my NAS is connected to the same router. (IP range is from 192.168.0.xxx)I am trying to access a NAS (HDD) on my local network, as for now I cannot... I am wondering if someone can give me...

My problem is; with my computer running Linux Lite, I cannot see my NAS (or any shared folder in my other computers), which are running WIndows.

With WIndows computers, it is very easy, I see my NAS and my other computers in my Network, and I can access them without any problem.

With my computer with Linux Lite, which I am testing, I have not found a way to see my NAS (and other computers) and access it.

I have read - https://www.linuxliteos.com/manual/netwo...l#lintowin (Accesing WIndows shares with Linux Lite)
When I type smb://192.168.0.15 (which is the IP address of my NAS, I get "Failed to open "FIle System" Failed to retreave share list from server. Software caused connection abort."
So, I can't go further..

By the way, in my setup, all the PC's in my network can access my NAS and the shared folders in my computers without a password.

I presume something is missing in my Linux Lite setup or I am doing something wrong, but I don't know what I am doing wrong...

Although, I installed Linux Lite a few years ago,  I have not been using it since then. So, I don't know much about Linux in general. I am trying to learn... So, if someone can give me some guidance, I would really appreciate.
Thank you.

[stevef]

I installed Linux Lite a few years ago. I have not been using it since then. So, I don't know much about Linux in general. I am trying to learn

Support for Linux Lite version 5.x ended in April 2025 so we can't really provide direct advice if you are still running 5.2 as stated in your System Specs.

The first step is to install a supported version.

Linux Lite 6.x is supported to April 2027
Linux Lite 7.x until April 2029
Linux Lite 8.x until April 2031

At the moment, I'd probably recommend version 7.8 as it is mature.

If you can't upgrade, please don't use your Linux Lite version 5.2 system on the Internet.

There are many general resources for debugging SMB connections, for example
https://linuxvox.com/blog/linux-connect-to-smb-share/
The 'good' resources tend to be technical and don't provide interactive guidance. It can be daunting for a novice to find and extract useful information.

[Gemini6]

Support for Linux Lite version 5.x ended in April 2025 so we can't really provide direct advice if you are still running 5.2 as stated in your System Specs.

The first step is to install a supported version.

Linux Lite 6.x is supported to April 2027
Linux Lite 7.x until April 2029
Linux Lite 8.x until April 2031

At the moment, I'd probably recommend version 7.8 as it is mature.

If you can't upgrade, please don't use your Linux Lite version 5.2 system on the Internet.

There are many general resources for debugging SMB connections, for example
https://linuxvox.com/blog/linux-connect-to-smb-share/
The 'good' resources tend to be technical and don't provide interactive guidance. It can be daunting for a novice to find and extract useful information.

Thank you! I followed your advice and upgraded to 6.6. The reason why I did not go to a newer version is the ISO size. I have an SSD of 128, in which I installed Windows as well. So, I prefer using a smaller ISO. 

So far, the things went smoothly, but I have a lot of work to configure it as needed.

Thank you again.

[LL-user]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your statement. The ISO size is not proportional to the size of your installation. The latter depends far more on the additional software you are planning to install and of course you data. If it's necessary you could even trim down the installation by deleting software you don't want/use.

As you're just at the beginning of your new setup I'd consider another round of installation and choose at least LL 7.8. Then you don't need to do another installation next year. And, the series 7 can even be upgraded to 8 at some stage. There is no upgrade path from series 6 to a higher version!

If you don't mind sharing some info about your disk layout/allocation, we might be able to give you a more qualified recommendation.

Hope that helps

[Gemini6]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your statement. The ISO size is not proportional to the size of your installation. The latter depends far more on the additional software you are planning to install and of course you data. If it's necessary you could even trim down the installation by deleting software you don't want/use.

As you're just at the beginning of your new setup I'd consider another round of installation and choose at least LL 7.8. Then you don't need to do another installation next year. And, the series 7 can even be upgraded to 8 at some stage. There is no upgrade path from series 6 to a higher version!

If you don't mind sharing some info about your disk layout/allocation, we might be able to give you a more qualified recommendation.

Hope that helps

Thank you for your comments!! I perfectly understand what you mean, and of course it is possible to trim down the installation by removing software. Thats what I always do. 

So, I tried removing software from 6.6, but the result is much bigger than the trimmed down 5.2. Of course, my knowledge in Linux is very limited. So, I can maybe remove more software, but I would prefer having a simple base installation and adding (downloading) additional software when necessary. 

Anyway, I read the link given above, but it doesn't seem easy to access shared folders without a password. So, I give it up, and I use windows for this purpose. Thank you anyway.

[stevef]

it doesn't seem easy to access shared folders without a password. So, I give it up, and I use windows for this purpose.

We hadn't got started looking at your set up.  SMB/Samba is very flexible and it is certainly possible to mis-configure.  Unsecured (aka anonymous or guest) file sharing is possible and is marginally easier to set up than secured access.  It's not a good idea but it is definitely possible.

[LL-user]

... but I would prefer having a simple base installation and adding (downloading) additional software when necessary. 

It would be worth having a look at the Series 8 release announcement: https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/showt...p?tid=9866

You might find these two sections specifically interesting: 

Lite Core - strips Linux Lite back to the bare essentials by letting you tick off and remove anything you don't use.

Lite Share Folder - right-click any folder in the file manager and pick Share Folder to share it across your home network. The first time you use it, everything needed for sharing is set up for you automatically. A notoriously fickle configuration issue that had most people retreat to the command line is now finally, and simply resolved.
It's worth having a read of the Series 8 release announcement: https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/showt...p?tid=9866

[stevef]

The right click option to 'Share Folder' (new in version 8) allows other systems to access that folder on the Lite 8.0 system itself and it works well.  However, I think the OP basic requirement was to use the Lite system as a client to access files held on a NAS system - not sure that 'Share Folder' can help do that, but I may have misunderstood.

[Gemini6]

Thank you!!

These two features seem very interesting for me. 
For the moment, I am trying to access NAS (and shared files in other PC running Windows), but being able to share a folder in Lite Linux is of course a way to go in the future!

I will try Linux Lite 8 some time in the future.

By the way, it would be really nice if there was an application with graphical interface to access NAS and shared folders in other PC's...