Help Intermittent smb problems: wifi or ...?

[Jelle10]

Hi everyone,

I've been the proud owner of a HTC Desire HD for the past 1.5 weeks. Not so long, but enough to really start to like this phone.

There's one issue I can't resolve by myself and I'm hoping someone can help me. It's about connecting to a computer using the smb protocol. Laziness prompted me to try this route rather than connecting the phone to the computer using a cable. Now that it's not working properly, it's even more important to get it fixed (one of those nerdy things).

Here's what's happening:
- Both ES explorer and Astro file manager: I turn wifi on and can establish a connection. I can see and access all shares, hidden and otherwise.
- I turn wifi off.
- Wifi back on again, both file managers are unable to find the server. Wifi connection is working for all other protocols. IP address is within range and is in fact the same as the address used when it was working the first time around.
- This is happening with two computers, both of which are running Vista 64 bit.
- I disabled the smb 2 protocol
- I enabled netbios over TCP/IP
- I disabled the firewall (Eset, Windows FW is not running)
- my computer is protected by a password, but I've also tried guest access to the share, same result
- at one time I had to power cycle the phone and this resolved the issue

Next up is trying to connect to a Linux machine, I couldn't get Ubuntu online this morning.

My preliminary conclusion is:
- it could be Windows related as both computers are running the same OS and I haven't been able to check Linux out yet. However, since power cycling the phone resolved the issue, this seems unlikely
- ES explorer and Astro are both experiencing this issue, so it's not due to either application. It could be an Android problem though
- router problem is unlikely as it invariably works the first time around (easy to reproduce by deleting the ES explorer settings) and there's the power cycle thing

Any thoughts?

 

[rhod]

hi i have just started using es file explorer for ftp between my linux box and my phone. i set up the ftp server on linux mint and the phone found it fine and i managed to get a few songs off the pc. i tried using smb but it keep saying that it cant find a server - even though i have samba server running on my linux box as well. anyway, my guess is its my samba server thats not right but hey i'm happy cos ftp is working! have you tried ftp yet?

cant understand your problem... if you are using ubuntu have you allowed the correct port through the firewall? it shouldn't need port forwarding on your router because you are connecting through your own wifi network. I just allowed port 21 on my linux firewall and all was good. i also installed the connectbot app from the market which allows you to connect to you linux box through ssh. give that a go (again, if you do, then make sure you allow port 22n through linux firewall). in relation to windows - i do have windows running virtually and have been able to connect through vnc on my desire HD - the speed is really good and graphics very impressive.

i dont know if i have answered any of your questions lol

let us know how you get on

 

[motomart]

I have tried to recreate your issue but it did not do this to me. I have Astro+SMB module on Froyo and shares on 2 Win7 machines.

Is your phone rooted?
Bad reliability of all File Managers, Ftp or Web servers prompted me to work the other way around and I'm glad I have spent some more time to install Samba server. It works blasting fast, always turns on when recognizes my home network and I do all file manipulation on my PC instead of a cumbersome and small touch screen. I exactly followed the instructions here http://androidforums.com/incredible-support-troubleshooting/73738-share-files-pc.html#post2122739
Your phone is acting as any other network share, multiple files drag and drop works great, stays on when your phone locks, starts only when it finds my home network and if you pick-up other WiFi your Samba does not start.
I think that we have to look for and demand better, than the developers are going to work on that. If we're all happy with the same old thing, we will very soon see 702nd variation of a Web server or Ftp type of sharing application... that honestly stinks.
I hope that in near future Samba becomes an integral part of OS and it's as easy as pushing 'Create password' followed by 'Start sharing' button.

 

[rhod]

thanks for the link ill take a look at that. sounds like its worth setting up the samba server then. FTP was fast and working great for pics and songs, but then i tried getting a 300mb vid from my pc and it didnt like it at all. ended up having to restart the phone. have you set up a samba server on linux before? could use some advice!

 

[motomart]

thanks for the link ill take a look at that. sounds like its worth setting up the samba server then. FTP was fast and working great for pics and songs, but then i tried getting a 300mb vid from my pc and it didnt like it at all. ended up having to restart the phone. have you set up a samba server on linux before? could use some advice!

Yes, I did set up Samba 10 years back, so not much of a recent experience. The scariest part to me was 'rooting' the new phone, but followed the instructions at forum.xda-developers.com... bingo.
I installed Samba server with default config file, I didn't even open it. The only thing I did was entering my network info, like SSID, domain, name for my new share (Droid/sdcard) and password.
I will try transfering big files when I get home, I have transfered 100's of songs with only one drag and drop though.