Linux running Samba, can’t browse symbolic links.

[Anonymous]

I have a server running samba with all my videos etc. I use symbolic links so I don’t have to keep two copies of videos for different sections. Eg, The Simpsons lives in TV Shows but I also link it into the Kids Videos.

XBMC on an original Xbox and a media center PC don’t struggle with it and neither does Windows but WiiMC won’t have any of it. I also just tested it with my HTC desire and Astro File Manager and that won’t do it either. Access is denied error.

Here’s a screenshot of the error I get.

Things are set up thus:

The Simpsons lives in /mnt/raid/Video/TV Shows/The Simpsons

in /mnt/raid/Video/Kids Stuff I have made a link with ln -s to the directory above.

There is a samba share called kids serving up files from /mnt/raid/Video/Kids Stuff

The relevant parts of my smb.conf are

[global]

follow symlinks = yes

wide symlinks = yes

unix extensions = no

workgroup = HOME

netbios aliases = S

server string = Server in the loft.

security = SHARE



[kids]

path = /mnt/raid/Video/Kids Stuff

read only = No

guest ok = Yes

All the videos that are actually in the Kids Stuff directory work fine, it’s only the linked directories that fail. I know it’s not a specific WiiMC problem as my phone does the same, but I know that other devices CAN access the directories so it must be possible.

Any suggestions?!

[Anonymous]

Unbelievable, mere seconds after posting this, I’ve fixed it!

There was an error in my smb.conf. Lesson learnt, don’t just copy and paste stuff from forums without understanding and checking it!

Fix below.

[global]

follow symlinks = yes

wide symlinks = yes <---- WRONG

unix extensions = no

workgroup = HOME

netbios aliases = S

server string = Server in the loft.

security = SHARE

Should read

[global]

follow symlinks = yes

wide links = yes <---- RIGHT

unix extensions = no

workgroup = HOME

netbios aliases = S

server string = Server in the loft.

security = SHARE

Hopefully this will help someone else one day!

[Author]

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