Marcus Muench1

Q: OSX Server 5 iOS file sharing: Where are the files?

I managed to activate and successfully use the new iOS 9 file sharing feature in my OSX Server 5. I can store and load the files on my server with all my iOS devices, but how do I access them with my other Macs and PCs? I expected to have access to my home folder, but it seems to be a separate location, which I cannot find with the Finder.

Posted on Oct 9, 2015 10:04 AM

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Q: OSX Server 5 iOS file sharing: Where are the files?

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  • by MrHoffman,

    MrHoffman MrHoffman Oct 9, 2015 11:30 AM in response to Marcus Muench1
    Level 6 (15,627 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 9, 2015 11:30 AM in response to Marcus Muench1

    I don't have a Server.app 5 configuration handy to check where that data is being stored.

     

    Here's how I'd look for this, though.   Launch Terminal.app from Applications > Utilities and issue the following command:

     

    find / -iname "OneOfYourFilenamesHere" -print

     

    That'll take a while to run, but it'll find any file with the filename OneOfYourFilenamesHere anywhere on your file system.  Use the double-quote character to quote the filename, to avoid any odd characters that might be present in the filename.

     

    You may (will) get some "Not a directory" and "Permission denied" diagnostics.   That's normal.


    If the filename does not show up, then change to the following command:

     

    sudo find / -iname "OneOfYourFilenamesHere" -print

     

    You'll have to enter your administrative password for the sudo, and that might generate a one-time message about the use of sudo.  The command will then run (again, this takes a while), and you should see rather fewer of the "Permission denied" errors, and the path to your file should show up in the output.

  • by Marcus Muench1,

    Marcus Muench1 Marcus Muench1 Oct 9, 2015 11:42 AM in response to MrHoffman
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 9, 2015 11:42 AM in response to MrHoffman

    Ok, the files seem to be located under /Library/Server/ServerDocs/Personal Folders.localized/<User Full Name>/, so the iOS file sharing is iOS only, it is not possible for iOS devices to collaborate with OS X or Windows PCs in my network, this folder is not subject of the normal file server shares. This is disappointing.

  • by Marcus Muench1,

    Marcus Muench1 Marcus Muench1 Oct 9, 2015 11:56 AM in response to Marcus Muench1
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 9, 2015 11:56 AM in response to Marcus Muench1

    Well, activating "SMB" in the home folder access settings does the trick. I only had activated "AFP", this does not seem to be enough for Macs to find the share. With SMB activated Macs see a share "Personal Folders.localized" and you get access to the iOS home folders. But I did not check if the access rights are correct, it seems to me that I can access all home folders, not only mine.

  • by Mac Dan,

    Mac Dan Mac Dan Jun 5, 2016 7:21 PM in response to Marcus Muench1
    Level 2 (159 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 5, 2016 7:21 PM in response to Marcus Muench1

    SMB seems to be the new universal secure/fast connection. AFP is now specific to Time Machine.

     

    I've been doing the opposite, taking normal/smb shares and getting them to work on ios.