Hub Two USB port

[#1]

Hi, hoping someone here can help me as I've had no joy elsewhere.

I've plugged a memory device into the port and it shows up in Hub Two Manager/Devices, but there's nothing I can set/change there other than the device name and icon.

Q: I would like to share files with other devices on my local network, does anyone know if this is possible?

[#2]

@FredGenius  Welcome to the Plusnet Community Fora.

This port uses the obsolete SMB1 protocol, this is not recommended as it is seen as a security risk.

Many devices lock out using SMB1 by default. I don't know about other devices but on a Windows machine you have to accept the risks and change the settings to gain access.

I would find other ways to transfer data.

[#3]

I leave a USB cable in there for charging small devices, that's it's ONLY realistic use these days.

[#4]

I tried plugging in a 64 GB USB stick into the Hub 2.

On my Mac, if I  Finder, Go, Network, (opens a window) doubleclick "plusnethubtwo", (advances the window) double-click "usb1", mounts the drive on my desktop. Hoorah! Not desperately useful as such, but somewhat satisfying. 

If I then right-click, Get info on the drive icon it informs me "server: smb://plusnethubtwo/usb1" 

Brilliant, I thought. Just type that address into a Caja (Thunar, whatever) address bar in my Linux box on the same Wifi network and it'll mount the drive and I'll be able to move files Mac/Linux with ease.

But no. Sigh. So near and yet so far.

Perhaps by pooling our ignorance we can see our way round this?

P.S. I wouldn't have thought security was an issue unless someone breaks into my network, in which case I'd have a lot more to worry about than just access to a USB stick. N'est pas? 

[#5]

---

@Baldrick1 wrote:

@FredGenius  Welcome to the Plusnet Community Fora.

This port uses the obsolete SMB1 protocol, this is not recommended as it is seen as a security risk.

Many devices lock out using SMB1 by default. I don't know about other devices but on a Windows machine you have to accept the risks and change the settings to gain access.

I would find other ways to transfer data.

---

That's not exactly helping the OP though is it.

As for it being seen as a security risk, ok that may be the case in some circumstances but not all. If the op is the only user on

their network for example, whats the risk? - Plusnets router isn't easy to hack through or they'd not be putting it in thousands of homes. So other than "I've heard it's a risk so i'll promote that view", what is the actual risk? - in depth tech details would be good here.

Clearly anyone wanting to plug a dongle into their router and share it over the network realises that any user on the network might have access to it. In some houses that may well be the main desire for this - family can share files with each other with minimal fuss for example.

Other ways to transfer data might be FTP server, a windows / linux server, http server etc etc - all of which require a user to have in depth knowledge of what they're doing, dedicate time to setting it up, testing etc. Not everyone needs or wants that.

Just imagine going to the supermarket and being asked for a username, password, authentication token, SMS verification etc just to be allowed in through the door. Then you get to the checkout and the system has to process your user permissions to decide what you are and are not allowed to purchase... and that is an example of how security isn't always useful. Like i said, they might need an open / insecure way of sharing files - one that is quick and convenient.

So perhaps you could forget about your rant on security and help the user instead?

[#6]

---

@FredGenius wrote:

Hi, hoping someone here can help me as I've had no joy elsewhere.

I've plugged a memory device into the port and it shows up in Hub Two Manager/Devices, but there's nothing I can set/change there other than the device name and icon.

Q: I would like to share files with other devices on my local network, does anyone know if this is possible?

---

It's relatively easy to access it.. (I'm using Windwos 7).. Go to the start menu and then "My Computer" / "Computer" in the left hand pane, you should see Network - like on the screenshot below and there you can select the USB drive in your hub two.

I've just tested this for you using our hub2 and it let me put a file on the drive and delete it again so you should be ok.

Word of warning, I couldn't see mine straight away so I had to right click and click "Refresh". At that point windows then noticed it was there and displayed it to me.

If you double click the icon where I've left a comment saying "Don't use this" it will simply open the plusnet home page - it will not open the USB drive.

[#7]

Inspired by the renewed activity on this thread I had another search for solutions to my problem on the Linux side and amongst the usual profusion of baffling gobbledegook I found this simple suggestion: 

edit the file /etc/samba/smb.conf

and in the section headed [global]

add the line: client min protocol = CORE

save and exit.

And By George it worked! No need to reboot or anything. Just typed smb://plusnethubtwo/usb1 in the Caja address bar and instead of moaning at me like before it immediately mounted the drive.

I'll probably never use it but that's not the point. I just hate being thwarted.

[#8]

---

@FrankFriedlos wrote:

Inspired by the renewed activity on this thread I had another search for solutions to my problem on the Linux side

---

Well thanks for mentioning linux in your opening post..

Still you've not completely wasted my time as my reply may well help someone else at some point.

[#9]

---

@7up wrote:

---

So perhaps you could forget about your rant on security and help the user instead?

---

Rant?

This port uses the obsolete SMB1 protocol, this is not recommended as it is seen as a security risk.

---

Help the user?

Many devices lock out using SMB1 by default. I don't know about other devices but on a Windows machine you have to accept the risks and change the settings to gain access.

[#10]

---

@Baldrick1 wrote:

---

@7up wrote:

---

So perhaps you could forget about your rant on security and help the user instead?

---

Rant?

This port uses the obsolete SMB1 protocol, this is not recommended as it is seen as a security risk.

---

Help the user?

Many devices lock out using SMB1 by default. I don't know about other devices but on a Windows machine you have to accept the risks and change the settings to gain access.

---

What settings and where?

Again, you've not provided anything. I did - see my screenshots - and there were absolutely no settings involved, None.

All you did was rant about security - as i said - and actually provided nothing of any real use at all. That is not what was asked for, HELP was asked for, not a lecture about security which may or may not affect the issue.

[#11]

In complete ignorance why does the Hub2 use the outdated SMB1 protocol?

I'm using the Hub1 on my home network for use by only myself and use it to transfer files between my macbook pro (Wifi) and my Windows 10 pc (Ethernet) and it's been fine. However now that I've added another couple of pc's(wifi) and would prefer to hook up a 2TB portable drive to the Hub1 USB port I get the message on the new Windows 10 and Windows 11 pcs that SMB1 is not secure and cannot be used. Because of this I thought that the Hub 2 that I have in its' box would solve the problem but from this thread it would seem not.

[#12]

The underlying operating system for both Hubs use is a few years old now, although firmware updates/upgrades have occurred sadly they have not included the SMB version

You'll need a admin account with Win 10 and 11, you can enable SMB client here, suggest you only make this change if you're happy and understand the risks

The Hub Two can run in Bridge Mode (modem only device), so you could use your own router for file sharing, the router would need to support a WAN with PPPoE authentication. Clearly you'd need the space for an extra router.

I use a raspberry pi as a network share, maybe for you use a always ON pc.

HTH

[#13]

I use a NAS box, but a good alternative is a 'thin client' windows box, like the Dell WYSE Dx0Q. I pickled mine up for £20, memory and ssd upgrade, install Windows 10, ready to go. This model has 2x USB 3.0 ports on the back, gigabit ethernet, even sound. If you install TightVNC (free), you can manage your shares and administer from any pc on your network. I've had mine running 24x7 for years, only needing re-boot when Windows Update insists.

[#14]

Thanks for that idea.