My UnRAID server is currently running on UnRAID OS version 6.9.2. Although the server is currently working without any issues, I’d like to significantly increase the capacity of the server by increasing the drive size (starting with the parity drive of course. Currently all drives (8 data plus 1 parity) are all 4Tb, and I’d like to increase each one to 12Tb over time). It’s also occurred to me that there are likely benefits, from both a functionality perspective, as well as a general security and support perspective, in updating UnRAID OS to a current/more up-to-date version.

However, what concerns me about doing this is that doing so might inadvertently “break” my current system, and I’m thinking primarily from a security perspective. My UnRAID system has a fairly simple use case, which I’ve tried to outline below, and I’m a total noob about network security so when I started reading through the change logs for each of the OS version updates subsequent to 9.6.2 I felt totally out of my depth.

What I’m hoping for is for someone to take a look at my use case, and the requirements for each of the different users, and to advise me on the following:

·       Is it necessary or advisable for me to update to a newer UnRAID OS version? If so, which one?

·       If I proceed with the update what changes, if any, will need to be made for the different users (media player/WebGUI/Windows user)?

 

Primary use of my UnRAID server – is to act as a repository for my Movie and TV Episode files which are served to 2 media playback devices (currently Zappiti players, but will likely change in the near future). I don’t use my UnRAID server for any virtualization, and I have very few Docker applications (Binhex Plexpass, and Krusader – neither being used any more). I used to use the Plexpass docker application, but found aspects of Plex I didn’t like, so I haven’t used that for years now, and I’m very unlikely to ever pick it up again.

 

USER 1 : Media Playback devices. As alluded to above, providing media for these devices to play is the main reason I built the UnRAID server in the first place. We’re currently only using 2 devices to play back TV Episodes and Movies, but we might add a different player specifically for music playback (I have my CD collection and some multichannel music files also stored on the server), or further media playback devices in the future.

 

Security: Currently, neither of the media players require a username or password to read or play back the files from the Media share on the server. They were able to connect to the UnRAID server, and access the Media share folders I pointed them to when I first set them up.

It is a requirement that this level of access remains unchanged OR – if a username and password is required by the media players to support a more recent version of the UnRAID OS – that this change can be made simply with little effort.

 

USER 2 : WebGUI – The UnRAID WebGUI is currently only used to spin the drives up or down, to initiate a parity check, or to shut the server down for maintenance – e.g. – to replace a drive.

 

Security: I currently access the WebGUI from my browser using the ‘root’ user and a password (both stored in LastPass – my password manager).

 

USER 3 : Windows 10 User: From my Windows 10 PC, I have Network Discovery turned on, and I can just select the Server and the user share I need. From here I can easily CRUD my files as required (Create, Reference/Read, Update, Delete).

 

Security: Currently, I don’t require a username or password to perform any of these actions.

 

It is a requirement that this level of access remains unchanged OR – if a username and password is required by me from my Windows 10 PC to support a more recent version of the UnRAID OS – that this change can be made simply with little effort. This is a BIG one, as I’m usually performing these actions regularly (i.e. – almost daily).

 

I’m sorry this is so lengthy. I wanted to make sure I’d provided enough context so any advice given would have the end goal in mind. I’m thankful for any information provided.

You can backup the flash before each update, if you want go back then restore it. There are no big change in current v6 Unraid which will affect your requirement.

 

 

For Windows SMB access, it may prompt input username / password even the share is public, but input something would be fine.

For Player SMB access ( I set logon need ), player will remember in initial SMB shortcut setup, I don't need input again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the response. Sorry it's taken me so long to respond. Life got complicated for a while there.

 

So, when you say....

 

 

On 1/11/2024 at 2:38 PM, Vr2Io said:

For Windows SMB access, it may prompt input username / password even the share is public, but input something would be fine.

 

...you're saying I can put ANY values in the username and password fields, and this will work?

 

On 1/11/2024 at 2:38 PM, Vr2Io said:

For Player SMB access ( I set logon need ), player will remember in initial SMB shortcut setup, I don't need input again.

 

In my case the players already have the share locations set up (media database management has already been set up). After the update the players will be asked for logon credentials where previously the players were NOT asked. Again, are you saying I can put in any values for username and password fields, or should I set up values in UnRAID? Hopefully, when the players are prompted for these credentials in subsequent use, they'll remember them.

 

 

 

 

On 1/10/2024 at 5:07 PM, Roscoe62 said:

USER 1 : Media Playback devices. As alluded to above, providing media for these devices to play is the main reason I built the UnRAID server in the first place. We’re currently only using 2 devices to play back TV Episodes and Movies, but we might add a different player specifically for music playback (I have my CD collection and some multichannel music files also stored on the server), or further media playback devices in the future.

 

These devices can be messy to use depending on how old they are.  If they are old enough that they only support SMBv1, they are basically EOL devices and recent Samba versions often have to be browbeaten to get them to work.  As I recall, if they work now on your current version of Unraid and you do a upgrade to the latest Unraid version, SMBv1 will still be 'active' ('Grandfathered' in) on your Unraid server.  (If you do a new install, SMBv1 will be turned off (if I understand it correctly) and you will have to turn it on.

 

On 1/10/2024 at 5:07 PM, Roscoe62 said:

USER 3 : Windows 10 User: From my Windows 10 PC, I have Network Discovery turned on, and I can just select the Server and the user share I need. From here I can easily CRUD my files as required (Create, Reference/Read, Update, Delete).

 

With WIN10, it is best to establish a Windows Credential using Credential Manager.  Of course, you will have setup a 'Share Access' user on Unraid.  Doing this generally eliminates problems on both the Unraid side and the Windows client side.   If you should run into a problem, read through the PDF in the first post of this thread:

 

            https://forums.unraid.net/topic/110580-security-is-not-a-dirty-word-unraid-windows-10-smb-setup/

 

Edited January 15, 20242 yr by Frank1940

Wow...thanks so much for this. Before taking the plunge I think doing some reading - especially from the link you provided - is going to be a valuable step.

 

Thanks again!