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Astro File Manager: please help with networking setup (SMB Module on Windows Server)

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Dr_koolaid

Lurker
I'm at a loss trying to get Astro to communicate with my Windows XP home computer. I downloaded the SMB module for my MotoDroid, but am not really clear on how to configure my Windows Networking settings and what exactly needs to be entered in Astro's configuration settings. Is there a guide on how to do this on the web?.. if so, I haven't been able to find it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I've also contacted Metago.. maybe they'll help.
 
It's working fine for me. What goes in each field seems straight forward, but I did leave the Domain blank (I have no domain controller) and Directory blank (I assume this is a subdirectory of the share, but I'm not sure), so you might want to try leaving them blank to simplify things to start. Also, I DID NOT enter any leading or trailing backslashes in any of the fields. The only other thing I can suggest is making sure you're on Wifi, and to double check your user name and password.

Edit: I just realized I missed big part of your message. Your Windows XP machine must have sharing enabled, and possibly require that simple sharing be disabled. You'll also need to share at least one folder, and grant (at a minimum) read permission to the share for the user name you want to use from your phone.

If you have a home network, I would make sure that file sharing works between PCs before bringing your phone and/or Astro into the picture.
 
Thanks. I guess I didn't realize that server= my ip address. I got it working. here's the reply I got from Metago:

We're still working on the SMB docs. Here's a quick start guide. Let me know if you have specific questions.


SMB Quick start:

Click the Network button in the toolbar (far right), click the New button, select Windows Server and enter these fields:


Label: icon label (optional)
Server: remote IP address (required)
Share: a windows share (optional)
Domain: a windows domain (optional)
Directory: a directory under the share (optional)
User Name: (required)
Password: (required)


You can click Test to try the settings and then click Save. Now click the newly created icon and you should be connected to your server. If you have problems, try entering only the required fields first and then enter optional fields one at a time to narrow down the problem.
 
Dr_koolaid said:
Thanks. I guess I didn't realize that server= my ip address
Click to expand...

I'm decent at setting up windows networking, but not too familiar with linux/smb...yet.

Dumb Question: Are you talking about the IP of the phone or the computer you're trying to connect with?

Thanks
 
WHat is the Username and Password for. I have no passwords to log onto my PC and what is the user name. PC user name ??
 
vaccdroid said:
WHat is the Username and Password for. I have no passwords to log onto my PC and what is the user name. PC user name ??
Click to expand...

I second this question as I am not very experienced with networking. I have no passwords for the PC or shared folders, so I am not sure what to enter in these fields.
 
I like Astro but I use ES File Explorer for accessing files on my network. With ES it was very easy to browse my network and bookmark shared drives for future access.
 
dijitz said:
I second this question as I am not very experienced with networking. I have no passwords for the PC or shared folders, so I am not sure what to enter in these fields.
Click to expand...


You can't have a home network if you don't share folders. Also, I believe you must use Windows login and set user accounts/permissions. Just set up one and use that as your username. If you don't set a password, then leave this field blank.
 
The easiest solution - install Estrongs File Explorer (ES File Explorer). Then just browse the windows network.

Added bonus is that it has Task manager and Application Manager.
 
The easiest solution - install Estrongs File Explorer (ES File Explorer). Then just browse the windows network.

I could not get Astro to work, so I went w/ ES F/E. This works great! Done a scan, found my desk top, viewed all files and folders that I wanted to...BUT cannot open any document. Word, Excel, PDF, MP3, etc. Everytime I click on the files it says "Sorry, No Application Installed." I can open these types of documents that are attached to an email.
Anyone have any suggestions??
 
I can get Astro to work just fine if I'm connected to my home router via wireless and use my laptop's local IP address as the network address. Anyone got any tips on how to get connectivity using 3G from a remote location. I'm guessing it's got something to do with using my router IP address and portforwarding the incoming connection to the laptop's local IP address but I'm reaching (=way beyond) the limits of my knowledge. Anyone able to help me out, please?
 
I can use Estrongs File Explorers LAN function just fine. But when I try using Astro File Explorer I receive the following error message.

invalid_payload_size.jpg


Does anybody know what this means.
 
To get it to work you probably have to go into your routers configuration screen and open up port 445 and point it to the IP address of your server whether that be PC or a storage unit. Port 445 is required for SMB protocol. When setting the file explorer to access the server use IP address not name of server.

I am sure this will solve your problem.
 
Now it's working!!!
I had the same problem and spent hours to fix the problem..
My settings in windows 7 are the default ones.
The only thing I had to change to make it work was to add the forward slash after the IP.
Old config:
Server:192.168.1.3
New Config:
Server:192.168.1.3/

That solved the problem.
Remember to set the username and password in the phone the way you have in your computer.

I think the router has nothing to do with the problem, because if you are connected using wifi, the router does not apply any filter to your packets to switch packets in the internal network. The only thing you have to be sure of, is to be connected to the wifi from your phone.
 
I have finally connected my HTC Desire to a computer running XP family edition, on my home/office network.

These are the basic settings in Astro SMB:

Select "New Connection"
Connection type <SMB>
select:-
Server, then enter the IP address in format< xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx\> of the XP machine one wishes to connect to, then select
User Name, and enter <guest>

Then select "test". Hopefully this will work for you also, in which case select "save" to place an icon on your Astro network page.

All other entries blank; the Label entry can be completed by entering the name of the connection but this wasn't required to get connected.

The connection came up quickly and gave access to all directories on the XP machine that have been configured to allow network sharing.

I cannot stream over this connection but can copy files from the XP machine to my HTC.
 
except for the main reason for this to work for me is viewing photos and guess what ESTRONGS is broke for that reason so quit spewing estrongs out your mouth
 
drksilenc said:
except for the main reason for this to work for me is viewing photos and guess what ESTRONGS is broke for that reason so quit spewing estrongs out your mouth
Click to expand...

I just installed and can view photos on networked drives with no problem but trying to open an avi or mkv just give the no application error
 
I'm also getting the smbexception message. Did anyone find a solution to this error? I'm using Windows 7 and have a folder shared. Thanks for the help.
 
Flavy said:
I'm also getting the smbexception message. Did anyone find a solution to this error? I'm using Windows 7 and have a folder shared. Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

Me too :(

EStrongs worked first time but I like Astro. I don't want to have to set up an SFTP server just for this
 
I received an email from the Astro developer. This is a known issue for 64bit Windows 7 machines. There currently is no eta for a fix :(
 
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