Connecting to an SMB share on your LAN is easy with GNOME 3.34.
Connecting to an SMB server from GNOME 3.34
Connecting to an SMB share on your LAN is easy with GNOME 3.34.
GNOME 3.34 has been out for a while now, and it’s a step or two ahead of where it was before. Both performance and reliability have been improved, so every user has to upgrade to the latest release.
A few functions have evolved over time. Such a function is how you connect to an SMB server. With this function you can easily connect the GNOME file manager (formerly Nautilus, but now referred to as “Files”) to an SMB server on your LAN.
I want to guide you through this process. It’s quick, easy and allows you to do even more work with your Windows cohorts.
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What you need
The only things you need to make this work are:
An SMB share on your LAN and a Linux distribution with the latest version of GNOME. If you are not sure which version of DE you are using, open the Files app, click the Files drop-down list (in the top bar of GNOME) and select View Details (Figure A). GNOME Software is opened. Scroll down to the details section and you should see that Files is running at least version 3.34. If not, update if possible.
I will demonstrate on Ubuntu Desktop 19.10, with GNOME 3.34.1-1.
Figure A
Find your version of GNOME.
How to make the connection
To create files, open Files. From the application, click on Other locations in the sidebar (Figure B).
Figure B
In the next window, locate the Connect to server item at the bottom (Figure C).
Figure C
Connect to server entry in GNOME files.
In the Enter server address text box, type the SMB address as follows:
smb: // SHARE_IP / SHARE
Where SHARE_IP is the IP address of the share and SHARE is the name of the share. So if the share is at 10.34.1.26, the full address is smb: //10.34.1.26/Documents. Type the address and press Enter on your keyboard or click Connect.
You will then be asked for your login details (Figure D).
Figure D
The SMB authentication window.
If the share you connect to requires credentials, select Registered user, enter your user name, domain (if required) and your user password.
At the bottom of the verification window you will see three options:
If security is a problem, select Forgot password immediately so that the password is forgotten when you disconnect the share. With this option you will have to enter your data again the next time you try to connect to the share. If you select Remember password until you log out, the GNOME keychain saves the password so you don’t have to enter it for the share until you log out of GNOME. If you always select Remember, the GNOME keychain stores the password indefinitely.
Click Connect and the connection will be made. You should see the share appear in the sidebar of GNOME files (Figure E).
Figure E
The Documents share is now accessible via the sidebar of GNOME files.
And that’s it. When you have finished using the share, you can click on the upward pointing arrow associated with the sidebar item to disconnect (unlink). Viola! You’re done. Have fun sharing.
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Image: Jack Wallen
