Monterey File Sharing - works as long as Finder on client side has Size column not ticked.

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LostAccount Author

Level 2

166 points

Monterey File Sharing - works as long as Finder on client side has Size column not ticked.

Hello

Issue: File sharing stops working as expected after 10-15 min

Workaround: On client Macs, turn off the Column "Size". "Calculate all sizes" is a dependent on Size

Configuration:

MacOS with File Sharing on: Monterey 12.4

MacOS used to connect to the Monterey Mac: 10.13.6, 11.6.5 (pending a minor update, 11.6.6)

More details:

When the client Mac connects, if it is displaying the Size column for the machine serving up the SMB file share the connection loses stability. If the Size column is a required view, the only workaround is to toggle File sharing off and back on on the Monterey Mac.

If the Size Finder column is not required it can be turned off on the client Mac and File sharing connections to the Monterey Mac will work with any interruption at all.

This was tested over various days so the probing and analysis above can be considered as a source of truth.

Troubleshooting steps on Monterey:

Resetting network devices,
Safeboot
using other network locations in the Network system preferences
reinstalling MacOS
trying other fresh user accounts
resetting SMC/NVRAM

Note: The Monterey machine is on 24/7, headless and acts only as a File share point. Only software updates ever take place.

When was the issue first observed?

At version Mac OS 12.0.1 or 12.1 (I can't quite recall the precise minor version but it was related to a security update).

Related:

Using the ditto command or other copy commands also fail if the Size column view is on. In this circumstance an error is displayed in the middle of a file copy. To paraphrase the error is "too many files open"

Does anyone have any other steps that I can take on the Monterey Mac where the issue appears to be isolated. Again, there was no issue when the MacMini (Monterey File sharing Mac) was running MacOS 12 or any version of Big Sur.

Thanks

Posted on May 28, 2022 4:17 AM

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Answer 1

LostAccount Author

Level 2

166 points

Jun 1, 2022 3:52 PM in response to Barney-15E

I wouldn't think the Apple feedback page is an appropriate target as this is not a product feedback but rather a support issue.

Judging from the same page's footer, which reads, "Please read Apple’s Unsolicited Idea Submission Policy before you send us your feedback.", I think it would be more well suited for sending Apple ideas to improve their products — not to report bugs as I think this clearly is.

Seeing that I have isolated the issue down to Monterey's File Sharing service, as evidenced (or claimed, as this just another forum) by two client Macs that both exhibit difficulty maintaining a connection over SMB for no more than a few minutes, as long as the client Macs have the Size column turned on. Again, if a Finder window's Size column is not active, the SMB connection works as expected for as long as required.

Thanks Barney.

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Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,746 points

Jun 1, 2022 3:53 PM in response to LostAccount

LostAccount wrote:

I wouldn't think that is an appropriate target as this is not a feedback issue but perhaps a support issue.

Well, it’s certainly more appropriate than here since we are just users that have no contact with Apple.

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Answer 3

LostAccount Author

Level 2

166 points

Jun 20, 2022 6:36 AM in response to Barney-15E

Hi Barney, what I meant by "appropriate" is that the link you provided appears to be specific to feature requests that end users deem favorable to the experience and that Apple page is meant for those types of feedback. As I am not seeking a feature request I chose not to channel the report through the said page.

This forum is a good place to voice issues with the community circa expected results within the current feature set.

At the end of the day I chose to contact AppleCare and they are investigating. If there is a resolution I will cycle back and share steps.

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Answer 4

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,746 points

Jun 20, 2022 8:23 AM in response to LostAccount

I guess I still can’t figure out why you think this is more appropriate. The feedback page goes directly to Apple. This site goes to users, much like you, who can’t do anything about the problem.

It is certainly appropriate to post it here to notify users, how to work around the problem, but if you want it to be fixed, you need to send it to Apple. Correcting bad behavior is certainly a feature request.

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Answer 5

LostAccount Author

Level 2

166 points

Jun 20, 2022 2:13 PM in response to Barney-15E

Hi Barney. You seemed to be rather persistent about visiting the page you first suggested. To give you the benefit of the doubt I chose to explore the form a little closer. You may be right after all. I do apologize for not having explored the form the first time around but I do see an interesting feedback type: Bug Report.

I did end up submitting the issue and identified it as bug. In the future I might encourage you to not be bewildered by answer like my first one. Instead, consider guiding the user with evidence on why the page suggested might be of use.

Either way, thank you!

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