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+--- Thread: What can go wrong when copying files from a Windows machine Linux NAS? (/showthread.php?tid=1285)
What can go wrong when copying files from a Windows machine Linux NAS? - savas - 04-06-2022
When you're copying files from a Windows machine to a Linux-based NAS, you might hit a few bumps along the way. One of the first things you might notice is the difference in file systems. Windows typically uses NTFS, while Linux systems often rely on ext4 or other file systems. This can lead to compatibility issues with file permissions and attributes. For instance, you might run into problems with file ownership or access rights because Linux has a more granular permission system.
Next up, let’s talk about file formats and naming conventions. Windows isn’t picky about unusual characters in file names, but Linux has stricter rules. If you’ve got files named with special characters or even spaces, Linux might throw a fit about it and either refuse to copy them or rename them unexpectedly. It's something worth checking before you dive into the transfer.
Then there's the issue of network protocols. Windows machines often use SMB (Server Message Block) for sharing files, while Linux tends to be more versatile, supporting everything from NFS (Network File System) to SCP (Secure Copy Protocol). If your Linux NAS is set up for NFS, but you’re trying to access it with SMB, you might encounter some connection issues. It’s definitely a good idea to verify what protocols your NAS supports and configure them on your Windows machine accordingly.
If you’re using third-party software to facilitate the transfer, you might find that some tools work better than others. Some applications may not handle larger files efficiently, or might struggle with transferring lots of smaller files at once. I’ve seen situations where huge file transfers just leave you staring at the progress bar for way too long, whereas smaller files get choked up in the process.
Then there is another thing. Case-sensitivity. This means in Linux folders can be seen different: NathansMusic and nathansmusic are two different folders. On Windows, they are the same. So what happens if someone created those two folders with Linux and then you copy them to Windows? Or what happens in Windows when an application creates a file Database.db and then overwrites it as database.db. You are right, in the Linux NAS you will end up with two different files that never existed as such and the files aren't overwritten as expected. When copying from Linux to Windows, if the only different is upper-case or lower-case characters, the files within those folders are merged into one folder on Windows, and then the files inside those folders may potentially get overwritten.
Hence, as you can see there is huge potential for a huge mess. The worst thing about it is if you don't pay very close attention and check the copy logs (if your tool even produces one), one entry at a time, you could potentially end up losing data.
So, really, when you’re working on transferring files from your Windows machine to a Linux NAS, just keep these challenges in mind. A little preparation and awareness can go a long way in making the process smoother.
But the ideal solution is this:
If you create files in Linux, get a Linux-based NAS and stick with it. If you create your files on Windows, stay away from Linux NAS or be very aware of the above named incompatibilities. Instead use a Windows Server or PC with a network share. Upon closer investigation you will find that for most users there isn't much of a reason to buy a NAS in the first place. The only justification is cost. But if you don't want to be cheap and want to have a guaranteed system that works 100% perfectly with the systems that you have that are creating the files, you need to stick to that OS: Windows with Windows, Linux with Linux. The little money you would save on a cheap NAS doesn't really justify the labor overhead involved in monitoring and resolving potential incompatibility problems.
Sure you will find people who will say they never had a problem with all of the above. That's because they never really looked into this and didn't notice, or they were indeed lucky enough never to misspell files, possibly because only few people used the NAS to begin with...
I hope this helps! Also check out my other post regarding NAS backups.