Hooked up a hard drive to my router (Linksys EA7300), how do I access the drive?

Diablo2K

Diablo2K

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I just got a new router, a Linksys EA7300, I hooked up a USB hard drive but I don't know how to use it. I can see it is enabled in the routers settings but how do I access the files that are on it?

FYI I am wired to the router on my PC if that matters.
 
Probably Windows filesharing (SMB/CIFS). You should probably read the router's manual to be sure. Also, make sure the drive is formatted to a compatible protocol.

(FWIW, I've always considered putting important file on a border device a bad idea. Too easy to compromise, especially if you mess up a setting. Also, such router filesharing services are often disappointingly slow.)
 
rtfm or login to the router and bumble around until you find the network map.
 
pendragon1 said:
rtfm or login to the router and bumble around until you find the network map.
Click to expand...
I bought a Remanufactured Router and all it came with is a quick start guide and it has no mention of a connected hard drive. The drive shows up in the routers settings, but no link or anything as to accessing the files.

When I click on the network in windows I get a plain page titled "MiniDLNA status", again no access to the files.
 
pendragon1 said:
go to linksys and grab the pdf.
Click to expand...
Online manual is useless! I just thought someone on here would have an answer to what I am guessing is a simple problem. Guess I am wrong!!!

When I double click the "This PC" icon and then click "Network" a "Media Device" shows up. When I right click it and select "Open Media Player" I can then play the music and videos that are on the drive. But what about the non media files that are on the drive.
Where do I go to access the hard drive like I would if I had it hooked up to the computer. I would assume it is pretty much universal regardless of the model of router.
 
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put the model in the thread title and maybe someone with one will know.
 
Diablo2K said:
Online manual is useless! I just thought someone on here would have an answer to what I am guessing is a simple problem. Guess I am wrong!!!

When I double click the "This PC" icon and then click "Network" a "Media Device" shows up. When I right click it and select "Open Media Player" I can then play the music and videos that are on the drive. But what about the non media files that are on the drive.
Where do I go to access the hard drive like I would if I had it hooked up to the computer. I would assume it is pretty much universal regardless of the model of router.
Click to expand...


It took me less than 2 minutes to get from Google to the following link:
https://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=137963

Follow those instructions and you should be up and running.
 
Just want to reiterate that plugging a hard drive directly into a consumer router, that would likely not have any sort of security ACLs on it, is a bad idea. You would be better off connecting that HDD to one of your PCs and setting up the access to it on that computer. Even NAS shares run a basic OS for this purpose.
Let your router focus on routing.
 
Can you post your experiences in terms of router performance before and after using the hdd, and specify whether USB2 or 3? I have been meaning to add a HDD, but all the consumer router reviews thus far that said that any USB input causes performance degradation due to interference?
 
ThatITGuy said:
Just want to reiterate that plugging a hard drive directly into a consumer router, that would likely not have any sort of security ACLs on it, is a bad idea. You would be better off connecting that HDD to one of your PCs and setting up the access to it on that computer. Even NAS shares run a basic OS for this purpose.
Let your router focus on routing.
Click to expand...
Much more eloquent than I would've put it. Perfect advice.
 
Fremunaln said:
Can you post your experiences in terms of router performance before and after using the hdd, and specify whether USB2 or 3? I have been meaning to add a HDD, but all the consumer router reviews thus far that said that any USB input causes performance degradation due to interference?
Click to expand...

I connected a usb hard drive to my router once, just for shits and giggles, thinking it would be cool to try it. I didn't notice any network slowdown, but man is it ever slow accessing the data. NAS is a way better choice.

Mine connected as 192.168.0.1/usb_a1

Mileage may vary and I would just follow the link posted about 3 above.
 
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