Hi, I just set up my unRAID server with basic 4.0 and 3 x 500GB disks. It's my first time with unRAID and things went pretty smoothly.

 

Now I can see disk1 and disk2 listed in workgroup on my PC. I created a DVD folder in both disk1 and disk2 and after hitting the "Re-Scan" in Shares page a user share "DVD" appears. I selected "Export read/write*" for user shares . I also selected "Export read/write" for both flash and disk shares. So far so good.

 

Ok, here is the problem. I can copy/create files and subfolders in DVD share, but they don't appear in either disk1/DVD or disk2/DVD. After hitting the re-scan they'll be all gone. Alternatively I can create a file in disk1/DVD and it will appear in DVD share. But I can't delete this file in DVD share: it'll reappear after re-scan. I can only delete it in disk1/DVD folder.

 

So it appears the DVD user share is read-only, eventhough I choose "export read/write*" in Shares page. However, what does the " * " mean here? Does it mean the write option for user shares in disabled in basic version, but available to paid version? I noticed for flash share and disk share the "export read/write" option was listed without " * ".

 

What I really want is a user share that I can treat just like all disks combined into one. I can copy/create files and subfolders in this user share without worrying about actually physical disks at all. This is like how I'm using the Infrant NAS600 for my work.  Is this possible with unRAID?

I'm guessing you've been too busy to search the forums.   May I suggest these threads?

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=750.0

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=774.0

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=786.msg5210#msg5210

 

 

We have been told User-shares will be writable in the next release of unRaid. 

 

User-shares today, in version 4.0, exist only in a memory disk, with links to the files and folders of the real files on the physical disks.  If you create a new file in a user-share in any release prior to 4.1 (not yet out, but soon), that file will exist only in memory, and will be gone the next time you reboot the machine. 

 

More important, if  the in-memory file uses all your memory, your unRaid server will crash.  Don't believe me, try to copy a 4 Gig ISO image of a DVD to your user-share where you only have 512 Meg of ram... trust me... it does not fit.

 

It makes no  difference, paid version or  free version, they  all are the same as far as user-shares function.  For your own safety, export them as read-only.  Export the disk shares  as writable (hidden or not as you prefer)

 

Joe L.

Thank you very much the quick reply, Rob! I swear I did search the fourm bofore I posted...  but I didn't hit the posts you listed. Next time I'll try harder ... 

 

So it's true that user shares in unRAID has very limited write options. Only those files physically located on disk shares can be edited through user shares. That explains perfectly what I experienced. Anyway, as a very beginner I found the documention of unRAID is kind of frustrating. These issues regarding user shares etc really should be formally documented.

 

Now I have to debate whether I should migrate to unRAID now or wait for v4.1. I have a 2 x 500GB as JBOD in D-LINK DNS323 network clousure and it works very well (but unprotected!). I am planning to copy all the files from D-LINK to unRAID with 3x 500GB disks, buy a regular or pro version of unRAID and then move two 500GB in D-LINK to unRAID so I'll have near 2TB protected storage with 5x 500GB disks. But I really don't want to manually manage all my foldes and files accross five drives in unRAID. That's a true PITA to me.... I do love all the other features of unRAID, like its power management of hard disks etc.

 

Yang

 

 

 

 

I'm guessing you've been too busy to search the forums.    May I suggest these threads?

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=750.0

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=774.0

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=786.msg5210#msg5210

 

 

We have been told User-shares will be writable in the next release of unRaid.   

 

User-shares today, in version 4.0, exist only in a memory disk, with links to the files and folders of the real files on the physical disks.   If you create a new file in a user-share in any release prior to 4.1 (not yet out, but soon), that file will exist only in memory, and will be gone the next time you reboot the machine. 

 

More important, if  the in-memory file uses all your memory, your unRaid server will crash.   Don't believe me, try to copy a 4 Gig ISO image of a DVD to your user-share where you only have 512 Meg of ram... trust me... it does not fit.

 

It makes no  difference, paid version or  free version, they  all are the same as far as user-shares function.  For your own safety, export them as read-only.  Export the disk shares  as writable (hidden or not as you prefer)

 

Joe L.

 

Thank you for your reply too, Joe! I found your old post with the help of RobJ. Very helpful.

 

Now I just couldn't wait to see the release of v4.1. To me that'll be a perfect RAID for my home use (unitil my daughters grow old enough to mess arroud with my computers!). If we can password protect user shares then I'll add an unRAID server to my lab, so I'll have both NAS600 and unRAID to back up each other.