Mapping network drive from a shared external HDD

external hard driveftproutersamba

I am using Windows 7 OS.
I have recently changed my Linksys smart router to an Asus RT-AC87U.
The router has an external HDD connected to it that serves as a file server and can be accessed from the local area network and from the internet as well.

With the Linksys, I was able to map the external HDD as a network drive and also as an ftp server over the internet.

When I connected my external HDD to the Asus router I realized that the ftp part is working (with a minor problem that I will talk about later), but I can no longer map it as a network drive like I used to. I can only access it from the network section. I want to map it, to see the available free space on it and for easier access.
The only option I have is if I map a specific folder from the external HDD as a share.

For example:
HDD name is My_Passport, a folder in it is called folder1
I can map \\RT-AC87U\folder1
I can not map \\RT-AC87U\My_Passport or \\192.168.1.1\My_Passport
With the Linksys I was able to map \\192.168.1.1\My_Passport and see every folder if I open it.

The other problem is, if a limited access user connects to the ftp server, he can see all folders even if he has no access to it.

example:
There are 3 folders: folder1, folder2, folder3
The created user has the following access:
folder1 - RW
folder2 - R
folder3 - NO
The user can see all 3 folders. With the Linksys, folder3 was hidden.

My questions are:

  1. Is it possible to map my HDD as a network drive so all folders will appear? If yes, how?

  2. Is it possible to make a folder disappear for a user who has "NO" access to it?

I have already thought of putting all folders into another folder so I can map it as a share, but than I lose the ability to add different access to folders since it is not possible to modify access for sub-folders.

Hint:
You can experiment with the routers menu from http://event.asus.com/2012/nw/dummy_ui/en/

Best Answer

The simulator link is for the RT-AC66U, which is not the same as the RT-AC87U. The following procedure might therefore apply to your router (or not).

Try this :

  • Go into the Web-admin interface
  • Click "USB Application"
  • Click "Media Services and Servers"
  • Click "Network Place(Samba) Share"
  • Set "Allow guest login" to "On"
  • Click Apply.

If this does not work for this router model, you will need to telnet into the router and do some hacking on its Linux configuration files. This article will tell you how:
Customizing Samba on an ASUSWRT wireless router

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