Time Capsule won't let me copy photosbraries from it

Ok.. easy peasy really

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8375787?answerId=33349536022#33349536022

I won't repeat it here.

Where it says Airport Disks Guest Access and is set to Not Allowed. Change to read and write. (just read should work if you are copying the directories to your NAS)..

Then click on update.. it takes mere seconds to trigger. Then I am hoping all will be well (for a while).

If you updated to Big Sur that is likely your problem. Did the problem start after you updated?

The permissions have changed.

(Airport Utility 5.6.1 no longer works for Big Sur 11.5.)

Indeed.. the easiest way I know to fix the permissions issue is to use 5.6.1 utility to change permissions on the whole TC.

That means you will need to invite a friend to drinks with their Mac (older with up to High Sierra is best) or Windows laptop in hand to help you out.

Install the 5.6.1 utility and then go to the disk tab .. sharing and turn on Guest read and write.

the rest of the space I am using as an (ethernet-connected to my router) external drive for about 20 Photos libraries. It’s all worked well with a few exceptions. I can add pics, edit them, etc.

Let me get this straight. You have created a number of folders under the main share, so if you look in Finder you can see each folder as per

Many people manage to mess this up and end up creating folders inside the backup which is very very bad.

Another solution as long as you have the photos in separate folders directly under the share, is to archive your TC. You will need a HFS+ formatted USB drive of equal size to the TC disk or larger. An archive will make an exact copy of the TC disk.

You can then plug that USB backup into your computer directly and fix the permissions. The issue is your Mac cannot directly change the permissions in a folder on network drive. (not without a lot of command line shenanigans). This also means you won't mess up and destroy your current libraries if something goes wrong.

The TC is very poor used this way as it has no ability to back itself up. Nor can Time Machine backup network drives.

You should use your NAS instead. You can create a suitable DMG or Sparsebundle with the correct format and most NAS will allow you to use AFP protocol.

It is difficult to change permissions when you do not have direct control. Apple must have a backdoor for that. i.e. a command in ACP command interpreter built into the TC.

You need to understand you do not control the hard disk in the TC. It is a network drive and under the control of the TC firmware. Apple has an essentially undocumented command interpreter built in that allows Apple to adjust settings from TC firmware.

There is a way to accomplish what you want. Not from ACP but directly issuing commands via the NetBSD firmware console.

SSH access from your computer directly to the firmware in the TC. And issue command CHMOD to change permissions.

There is available via my website some info on how to turn on SSH access. Because of course Apple has it turned off.

https://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/a-deconstruction-of-routers-and-modems/apple-time-capsule-repair/change-country-on-airport-router

The issue at hand is changing the country which is locked by Apple in various areas around the world. That change is possible by opening SSH access which is what interests you. So look at step one and the references there.

I am happy to assist at least getting SSH access. There is contact info on the webpage. And a pdf at the bottom with lots more info on how to prepare for remote access.

This works btw with any Airport. All are built on the same NetBSD firmware.

If Big Sur will not open the files, then set Guest access to Not Allowed.. Update.. Then Read and Write and update.. see if that fixes it. I am also presuming you have done the ordinary restart of computer and TC and even the main router and modem.. just to be sure everything is hunky dory.

I test to see if I can copy a library onto my MBP. It works!

Ok.. so your issue appears to be more flakey networking or issues with Big Sur.

I think it is time to move off using the TC. A 1TB model is at least 10 years old now.. so trust level should already be very low.. I think with big sur I would make that zero.. or negative..

I don't have a big sur capable computer as yet.. but just today I sold off my working Gen5 Time Capsule and Airport Express while they are worth a $ or $$. I have a synology NAS and use that for everything. I think it is well and truly times up for the old old airports.