It's time to integrate a decent file manager, something like nextExplorer. It would be nice to have a ready to use solution without having to install third party docker container for such a basic functionality. There should be also be an easy way to use the same user account for share access as well as the web based file manager and possibly the built-in FTP Server.

There is already a built-in file manager in the webUI with Unraid V7

6 minutes ago, acirovic said:

There should be also be an easy way to use the same user account for share access as well as the web based file manager and possibly the built-in FTP Server.

Only root has access to the webUI and that probably won't change. Not something you want share users to have access to. And better to use something other than built-in Linux FTP for security since you can't create Linux users in Unraid.

It's really annoying the length you have to go through to be able to use the same user account across the services. That should be something available OOTB. Something Synology has been doing since forever. If you already need to have user accounts for shares access, make it work across all available services. I wouldn't even mind if the web file manager and the FTP are exposed as separate applications/containers. Just make them use the same user accounts as for file shares.

Logging in to the webUI is a completely separate login from your network file access login, just like when you go to another website.

I know, but at the very least the share access and some basic web based file manager should share same user accounts.

You can use your network login to work with those folders and files it has access to using whatever application you want use on your client machine, such as Windows File Explorer.

1 hour ago, acirovic said:

I know, but at the very least the share access and some basic web based file manager should share same user accounts.

I use Directory Opus to manage my Unraid share (at least the exported public and hidden ones) content across several PCs using an Unraid user account other than root. Of course, I can do similar things with the file manager built into the GUI, but, I prefer to do most things through the dual-pane Directory Opus.

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/insomnia417/Unraid-FileBrowser_Quantum-Plugins/main/FileBrowser_Quantum.plg

like this？

28 minutes ago, Hoopster said:

I use Directory Opus to manage my Unraid share (at least the exported public and hidden ones) content across several PCs using an Unraid user account other than root

me too

FileBrowser is an option. I find it a bit limited so I decided to try the nextExplorer. It looks more promising.

GitHub - vikramsoni2/nextExplorer: Web based File Explorer

I will give nextExplorer a look!

I've been testing FileManagerUI recently for this same reason. A modern looking dual-pane interface. Seems vibe-coded but it's functional for now. I only spin it up when I need it right now until it's a bit more tested.
https://github.com/jandrop/file_core_api_unraid

I don't want to give all my users root access, and the Unraid Dashboard itself is not exactly where I want to send a user who I granted enhanced access to. That said, I do hope the web interface for the file management get a little better in the future, as some operations like moving files from disk to disk would be easier if we had dual panes like Midnight Commander and other file browsers. Until now, MC was my fallback option for Unraid disk activity. And if/when that does happen, letting users login to the unraid dash with their samba user information to access that file browser and limited other sections might be a good idea to explore. As others have mentioned, it is a feature on simpler NAS hardware.

Dockers exist that do this... Sftp-fail2ban...

File explorer...

Terminal web TTY and mc

I’ve always found it annoying that there’s no decent web file manager in community apps, everything feels complicated. So I ended up building my own simple one. It’s still in beta, https://github.com/OnionSugar2030/the-cellar