[NOOB] Please help on Installing Alt-F v1.0 to USB Pdrive.

[TechRetroParts]

Hi all,

I recently joined this Alt-F & I've been searching in Wiki & Forum, for a proper guide on how to install ALT-F to USB, but I couldn't find.

Here is what I did so far:-
1. Dlink 1.08, upgrade firmware to Alt-F-1.0-DNS-323-rev-AxBxCx.bin as I am using DNS-323 HW: C1 .
2. Disk -> Wizard -> 
a. Choose both Hard disk [Left & Right]

b.
Data security, duplicate everything on two disks (and use an external USB disk, if available, as a spare) (raid1)  
c.
recent, faster cleaning time, best reliability, low fragmentation, big files support (ext4)  
d. Click "Adbracadabra"

As for SMB, with very  little computer knowledge on Alt-F, I spend hours & finally, here's is my smb Share:-

So with Permission are set to "NOBODY" (I assumed, this is guest..)
I am able to access \\192.168.2.42\Shares_2TB_1Nob2020 without issues.

In my primitive mind, this confirms Alt-F is working fine for me! XD LOL!

Now I install putty and I am able to putty into the box with black console, but afraid I might brick/break the device, this is where, I am in need for your help.

How do I go about, getting Alt-F install to USB and boot from USB pendrive & SWAP from pendrive?

I want the drive to be able to SPIN down when I am not using it. Any thoughts? 

[TechRetroParts]

Okay,

Here's the Update (After googling):-

In Putty, I SSH it, I have use fdisk /dev/sdc to create only 1 Primary Partition with ID 83 Linux, then I have  mkfs.ext3 /dev/sdc1 for it.

Then in the GUI, I go to Disk -> Filesystems - > "sdc1" FS Operation -> Mount.

okay, so how do i copy the entire Alt-F into the USB drive, and boot it from there? 

[Rolf Pedersen]

Looks like you're doing very well.  Since I've never tried the usb thing and wouldn't want to give you bad advice, let's just call this "throwing it out there".

In the web interface, look at the menu under Packages > Alt-F



It appears I've installed Alt-F in one place and, at some point copied it to another.  Both are boot enabled and one is active.  There is a combo box to choose another filesystem, copy Alt-F there, boot-enable, and activate.  I'm guessing/vaguely remembering that, if Alt-F packages have not yet been installed, this menu section would give you the options to work with the usb drive.

I've got 4 or 5 DNS-* running Alt-F and, for a variety of reasons, my grasp of exactly what happened, when, where, should be an object of a bit of skepticism.  Mull it over, apply your apparent powers of critical thinking, and, if necessary, better minds might rescue you from making the wrong step, given time.
Good luck!
Rolf

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[João Cardoso]

On Sunday, 1 November 2020 14:03:38 UTC, Rolf Pedersen wrote:

Looks like you're doing very well.  Since I've never tried the usb thing and wouldn't want to give you bad advice, let's just call this "throwing it out there".

That's correct.

to TechRetroParts: Alt-F is not installed there, only new packages or packages updates are. The first folder named 'Alt-F' found at boot time will be used. You could have uses Disk->Partitioner followed by Disk->Filesystem to create the USB partition and filesystem, instead of using the command line.  Most of the time you cant perform maintenance operations on the filesystem where the 'Alt-F' folder is being used, even Deactivate or Delete it, you will have to boot disable it, reboot, and then perform the action. 

Having swap on USB is not advisable, at it will probably worn out the USB rapidly, depending on its usage. In any case, Disk->Utilities enables doing it (it has to have a dedicated swap partition on it)

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[TechRetroParts]

Thanks you soo much  Rolf & Joao!

Ok, I wont turn on that SWAP(prevent wear and tear of pendrive), because now everything boot from USB. :)

I'm not planning to install any of those packages(i'm not very techy yet..) but at least now I can copy my files over network as guest.

My only concern now , is a basic security.

I can now access to \\192.168.2.42\Shares_2TB_1Nov2020 with no issues.

However, I wanted a basic security for myself.
Admin1 - RW
Admin2 - RO

so I goto Setup -> Users , CreateDir in > md0  -> I create 2 users..
Admin1 and Admin2

Services -> Network -> SMB > Configure ->  
Then I saw several lines were added:- See Below:-

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[TechRetroParts]

Here is the screenshot.. as you can see, it auto create the last 3 lines (Which is fine by me..)
But I just want the /mnt/md0/shares to be authenticated....
so if I entered Admin1,  I can copy files over...
but if I entered Admin2, I can just view them.. explore/browse them.. or copy from.. but I cannot write. 

is this achievable in Alt-F?

[TechRetroParts]

it keep saying my username/password is wrong.. but I keyed in correctly.. hmm... 
does it have anything to do with SMB1 or 2? im using Windows 10... 

I also tried Control Panel -  Administrative Tools -> Local Security Policy -> Security Option -> Microsoft Network client: Send unencrypted password to third-party SMB server -> Set to Enable,
I reboot and test... still cant go in...

hmm... any ideas?

[João Cardoso]

You only need to create users using the webUI. The already define Users share  will encompass them all. Users can't read each other home folders or shares.

So you might have to undo most of what you have done. Sub-shares should *not* be used. You might need to install the wsdd2 package to enable win10 to browse and display the box. You don't need SMB1 if using win10, and you don't need to tweak win10.

[TechRetroParts]

Thanks Joao... wsdd2 did the trick!

I finally able to achieve what I want from that old box. Thank you! I appreciate the community support from this! :)