Can't copy linux files to NAS, what can i do?

Matt26 · 13 Jan 2018

hello! i'm trying to copy a folder (using file explorer) from my USB drive (NTFS) that contains linux files, to my NAS drive (EXT4). the copy process stops on a file with ":" in the file name and the message "the filename you specified is not valid or too long". i suspect this has to do with windows not liking the special character, and i've discovered quite a few of these special character files in the folder i'm trying to copy, so manual file renaming isn't ideal.

i tried copying the folder from a ubuntu live cd but it stops on files with the message "symlinks not supported by backend", so i'm stuck trying to figure out a way to do this folder copy in one shot without having to resort to manual efforts like file renaming- does anyone know of a way that i can make this folder copy happen?

many thanks!

Ztruker · 13 Jan 2018

Do it under Linux?

Matt26 · 13 Jan 2018

i tried copying the folder from a ubuntu live cd but it stops on files with the message "symlinks not supported by backend"

do you know of another linux option that can get past this?

PolarNettles · 13 Jan 2018

I'm guessing you're transferring the files over Samba, which is a Microsoft protocol and has no concept of symlinks.

Do you need to preserve the symlinks?

lehnerus2000 · 13 Jan 2018

How are you trying to copy the files?

You shouldn't get a message about symlinks unless there are items in the folder that are actually links (i.e. the files aren't in the folder).

I'm not sure what file manager Ubuntu uses, but assuming it allows it, check the "Type" column.
Here is a screenshot from Caja in Linux Mint MATE:

Can't copy linux files to NAS, what can i do?-lm18-caja-link.png

Try creating a new folder on the destination drive and then copy the files from inside the source folder (rather than copying the folder itself).

Matt26 · 13 Jan 2018

ideally, i'd like to get everything copied over in one shot, so if i can keep everything as is then that would be great.

i'm using the default file manager in ubuntu (sorry, can't remember the name), right-click folder and copy, then pasting in the destination directory on the NAS. i think these "symlink" files that ubuntu is stopping on are spread throughout the folder structure, ie they don't just reside in one folder.. is there some way to force ubuntu to copy these files, or another live cd option that allows copying these symlink files?

PolarNettles · 14 Jan 2018

Can you mount your NAS using NFS instead of SMB?

jimbo45 · 14 Jan 2018

Matt26 said:

do you know of another linux option that can get past this?

Hi there @Matt26

download GRSYNC on your Linux system / live distro and simply copy the directories / files --works a treat

(Mount the two HDD's first before trying the copy -- easy these days as root or sudo : mount /dev/your HDD -t auto -o rw /mnt/your mountpoint)

the auto parameter saves you even having to know the file type -- for linux read / write to NTFS files install package ntfs-3g. Fat32 is natively supported anyway. Some distros might have ntfs-3g installed by default.

Can't copy linux files to NAS, what can i do?-snapshot6.png

on UBUNTU

Grsync Ubuntu Apps Directory

on CENTOS / FEDORA just use YUM INSTALL from the nux-dextop repo. I won't go into details here as this is Windows Forum but it's easy enough.

If you copy whole directory --remember to add the '/' in the FROM directory at the end. Note this program can also only copy files that don't exist on the target and loads of other options too --very useful indeed.

(Grsync is a GUI front end for rsync)

I'm using KDE desktop but GNOME/MINT should also be OK - the standard file manager on KDE is Dolphin - on GNOME it's Nautilus I think. There's live kde centos distro if you need a quick live distro from the rolling release web site -- you will need to install ntfs-3g for NTFS file read / write if you need that option. If you can mount the directories you wont need samba on the live distro for the copy. To get grsync you will have to install the nux-dextop repo -- plenty of decent documentation on Google.

For CENTOS 7 Rolling release - pick KDE live

Index of /rolling/7/isos/x86_64

Cheers

jimbo

Matt26 · 14 Jan 2018

on UBUNTU

Grsync Ubuntu Apps Directory

i tried this from the ubuntu 17.10 live cd, can't get it to work- ubuntu software shows no results for GRSYNC (i can search for and find other stuff) and firefox can't resolve the above link- do i need some prerequisites? can GRSYNC be installed in a live cd session?

jimbo45 · 15 Jan 2018

Matt26 said:

i tried this from the ubuntu 17.10 live cd, can't get it to work- ubuntu software shows no results for GRSYNC (i can search for and find other stuff) and firefox can't resolve the above link- do i need some prerequisites? can GRSYNC be installed in a live cd session?

Hi there
@Matt26

I'll try it from live CENTOS session later then I can send you the exact steps. Even if you aren't a regular Linux user this is fairly straight forward to do.

I'm going to be outside installing LAN cable for a while - then will do the test for you - I've been kicked out of the main house for having too many cables, wires, bits of computer hardware, old monitors etc around the place !!! so I've been relegated to my shed which I use as an office anyway.

"She who must be obeyed" said --I'm sick of this stuff -- OUT or I'm going to toss it all in the trash !!!!.

Cheers
jimbo