Why Do Mobile Devices Not Support SMB Protocol?
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In the AD integration thread we were discussing the SMB protocol and how nice it would be to have it on mobile devices (iOS, Android, etc.) Not everyone wants it, but many do and the lack of it is confusing. So a couple of questions to discuss:
- Why isn't there any SMB protocol support on any mobile platform? Seems easy enough to do.
- Do we actually want SMB support if it were available?
- How would we want it to work?
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SMB is supported in almost every file browser, I use it on iOS and Android for File Shares..
I think making it at the OS level would expose those share to all apps and could be dangerous. Right now in the file browser you open the share then send them to another app from it if you need too.
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@scottalanmiller said:
In the AD integration thread we were discussing the SMB protocol and how nice it would be to have it on mobile devices (iOS, Android, etc.) Not everyone wants it, but many do and the lack of it is confusing. So a couple of questions to discuss:
- Why isn't there any SMB protocol support on any mobile platform? Seems easy enough to do.
Because that would take critical space in the kernel for something that isn't really isnt going to be used. Think about the morons who never update because they are afraid. Lest some SMB vulnerability comes up.
Do we actually want SMB support if it were available?
F**[moderated] yeah. Right now we have to use third party file browsers to do some basic SMB protocol stuff.
How would we want it to work?
Straight integration into the file browser. Just put it as a "Network Share" and all would be well.
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@thecreativeone91 said:
SMB is supported in almost every file browser, I use it on iOS and Android for File Shares..
I think making it at the OS level would expose those share to all apps and could be dangerous. Right now in the file browser you open the share then send them to another app from it if you need too.
Possible that the security is a concern. It's a really awkward way to work with the files through a browser, though.
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@PSX_Defector said:
Because that would take critical space in the kernel for something that isn't really isnt going to be used. Think about the morons who never update because they are afraid. Lest some SMB vulnerability comes up.
Really good point.
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@PSX_Defector said:
Straight integration into the file browser. Just put it as a "Network Share" and all would be well.
My wonder there is.... how many users will freak out because they can't figure out the "network" aspect of what is going on so they will be going in and out of the LAN and not able to figure out why their shares work and don't work all of the time.
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@scottalanmiller said:
- Why isn't there any SMB protocol support on any mobile platform? Seems easy enough to do.
Does Android (or iOS) support NFS natively? For some reason I would like to see that supported before or concurrently with SMB.
- Do we actually want SMB support if it were available?
Yes please. This would be a fantastic addition and make some troubleshooting that much easier.
- How would we want it to work?
Right through the stock file browser would be the best.
Another recommendation, native support for WebDAV. I recently setup a server with WebDAV and like how it works.
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@coliver said:
@scottalanmiller said:
- Why isn't there any SMB protocol support on any mobile platform? Seems easy enough to do.
Does Android (or iOS) support NFS natively? For some reason I would like to see that supported before or concurrently with SMB.
No, and I agree. That would rock.
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@coliver said:
Another recommendation, native support for WebDAV. I recently setup a server with WebDAV and like how it works.
Sharepoint is a WebDAV server.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@coliver said:
Another recommendation, native support for WebDAV. I recently setup a server with WebDAV and like how it works.
Sharepoint is a WebDAV server.
Yep, so is the Owncloud server I setup several months ago.... I love how I can access the webdav side of it from any linux box... although I haven't been able to map it from within Windows 8 yet.
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ES File Explorer seems to work for me on Android 4.0
