Migrating Windows 10 Data Directories and Files

Quote from macom

That looks like the HDD is connected to the USB stick

Edit: looking again at the more complex picture, I understand that this shows the folder structure; that might be confusing for people coming from Windows; not sure if it would be better to show the physical structure instead of the logical one.

And I would suggest to use a symbol that is indicating an SSD instead of an HDD (have to admit don't know how such a symbol looks like)

I think this is a good idea to have a simple setup first and then the more complex setup to explain certain considerations.

Let's see what geoffwhere thinks.

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Your efforts to improve the documentation are welcome and appreciated. Unfortunately,I have many other commitments (some of which involve assembling some better hardware options) that prevent me from responding promptly but I'll take your points on board and get back to you as soon as possible (this may not be until next week but I really appreciate your position).

I''m back and with no more ability than previous. I guess I'm stuck!

I'm trying to install Plex Media Server for Docker from github but don't get past the downloading of pms-docker-master.zip.

My Windows file directory shows this file as copied to the OMV Server LAN Directory but I've no idea where to install this file on the OMV Server.

The OMV Help system gives no instructions that I understand to make it available as a menu item in the OMV Server window.

So far, I'm way above my head with what I can only refer to as Double Dutch instructions, or no instructions at all, to get this thing working.

I've created a directory on the OMV Server but I don't seem to be able to find how to make that a working directory for installation and running of applications.

Also, I've installed another HDD to accomodate the Docker installation but can't find how to get it to install Docker on that extra HDD. The directory system and file availability is totally different from what I'm familiar with.

Can you help by guiding me through the steps needed to make this OMV Server a useful tool for LAN access to these media files?

Quote from macom

That looks like the HDD is connected to the USB stick

Edit: looking again at the more complex picture, I understand that this shows the folder structure; that might be confusing for people coming from Windows; not sure if it would be better to show the physical structure instead of the logical one.

And I would suggest to use a symbol that is indicating an SSD instead of an HDD (have to admit don't know how such a symbol looks like)

I think this is a good idea to have a simple setup first and then the more complex setup to explain certain considerations.

Let's see what geoffwhere thinks

Display More

Not related to this message, please see above message from me about my current status and ongoing help.

Quote from macom

Where did you get that suggestion?

Have you been using Linux before? The folder structure is different than in Windows. Especially how additional drives are handled.

Quote from macom

Where did you get that suggestion?

Have you been using Linux before? The folder structure is different than in Windows. Especially how additional drives are handled.

That suggestion was deducted by myself (a Linux novice) and it was liosted on the Plex site as a download option. I've used Plex successfully before in a Winoows environment, this is my attempt to remove Windows Server from my platform mix (I'm a long suffering Windows user, but the Windows Server environment made me realise Windows is a sledge hammer to crack a walnut).

All I'm trying to do is have a secure network location for documents, music and photos.

It looked like OMV might be the right environment for that, but I'm up against my complete lack of knowledge of Linux. I'd hoped OMV would provide a simple to install and use environment that would make my media files available across the LAN (and maybe one day the WAN for my geographically remote family).

Some time ago I tried using FreeNAS but found it too complex. I just want a simple system to store, protect, and distribute access for my image and music files. Any further assistance and/or recommendations would be most welcome.

I've since installed Putty but even that environment won't let me sign in to use OMV as a 'psuedo/semi Windows' platform to access and manage my photos, music, and document files.

I'm approaching complete failure and disappointment

Quote from macom

I think you need to understand the difference between a server and a client. A server like OMV does not have a Win11 like desktop environment when you access the server itself. You interact with the server via the command line interface (CLI), e.g. Putty. That is text only (or some very rudimentary graphical symbols).

Additionally you can interact with the server via a browser on a client using applications like the GUI of OMV or Plex.

You can also use Windows explorer on a client to get access to data stored on a server.

Another concept that you need to understand is how drives are accessed in Linux. If you use OMV only in its very basic functionality (NAS = network attached storage) you don't have to care about it, but if you want to use Docker, it is important to know.

Linux does not know drive letters like C:, D:, E: etc. Instead everything starts with the so called root. The symbol for root is "/". Yes, a simple slash.

"/" is where everything starts when it comes to files and directories.

"/" is the basis of the drive where your operating system is located. You can think of it like C:

Additional drives are mounted on so called mount points. Mount points are directories that are used to access the drives.

In OMV additional drives are mounted in /srv. That means you find additional drives on "/" in a directory called "srv".

The exact mount point is something like

"/srv/dev-disk-by-uuid-xxx"

where xxx is a long sequence of numbers and letters. It is made like this to make sure that each drive has a defined and unambiguous name.

uuid is short for universally unique identifier.

Does this make sense so far?

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So far it only makes partial sense.

I'm struggling because of a number of factors, primarily only being able to interact with the system via a browser at the system admin level is both confusing and, I suspect, a sledge hammer to crack a walnut.

All I'm trying to do is make my music, photo, and some document directories, accessible via the existing LAN and internet. Having to setup and operate other than at the OS level is confusing me. I'm not a novice when it comes to creating and using directories but the user interface from OMV (and probably by extension, Linux) is beyond my willingness and ability to grasp.

Again, all I'm trying to do is access the files mentioned above, which were previously setup in a Windows format, in a no-cost (possibly Linux), powerful environment.

Not being able to get to those files as easily as can be done in Windows is causing, what I perceive as, unecessary hurdles in both learning and execution. As previously mentioned, I tried using FreeNAS but it was too complicated and the difficulties I'm confronting with OMV are similarly complex. I had hoped this would be a simple exercise, but not being able or willing to absorb the complexity is unnecessarily daunting.

I'm going tp give it another shot using something like havetheknowhow.com, Zorin OS, or Linux Lite. I believe one of these versions relies on Putty to interface with the Linux OS and that might suit my lack of Linux familiarity.

All I'm trying to do is setup a platform that can house and manage my media files for network access. So far I've only struck brick walls with OMV, mainly due to my unfamiliarity with it and its perceived unnecessary complexity.
On another note, how do I get past this: