Community Solution

How to Share ZimaOS Folders with SMB on Windows and macOS

An IceWhale tutorial shows how ZimaOS exposes shared folders over SMB and how Windows and macOS clients can mount them. The original 2024 guide began with guest access, while current ZimaOS supports member accounts and read or read/write permissions.

SMB is one of the most useful ways to work with files stored on ZimaOS because it lets Windows, macOS, Linux, and other clients access a NAS folder as part of their normal file-management workflow. The original IceWhale tutorial from August 2024 showed how to create a ZimaOS share and mount it on Windows or macOS.

The main concept is unchanged, but the permission model has evolved. The 2024 tutorial initially described guest access and noted that multi-user permissions were planned. Current ZimaOS now supports Samba members, guest access, and per-share Read or Read & Write permissions. For a new setup, use the current member-account workflow rather than treating the old guest-only screenshots as the default security model.

What SMB and Samba Do on ZimaOS

SMB, or Server Message Block, is the network file-sharing protocol commonly used by Windows. Samba is the open-source implementation widely used on Linux and Unix-like systems. ZimaOS uses Samba so folders on the server can be accessed by computers on the network without downloading files through the WebUI first.

This is useful when you want to:

  • browse NAS files directly in Windows File Explorer or macOS Finder;
  • open and save documents without manually uploading them through a browser;
  • map a ZimaOS share as a network location;
  • give different family or team members controlled access to specific folders.

Create an SMB Share in ZimaOS

In current ZimaOS, open the Files app, select the folder you want to expose, and use the Samba sharing action. Current documentation calls this Share Samba.

The current ZimaOS Samba multi-user guide supports two major access roles:

  • Member: a named account with a password.
  • Guest: access without a dedicated member credential where guest sharing is allowed.

You can also choose:

  • Read: the member can access and download files without normal write operations.
  • Read & Write: the member can upload, rename, modify, and delete files according to the share permissions.

The 2024 Guest Workflow Is Historical

The original community tutorial stated that SMB sharing was using the Guest account at that time and said multi-user sharing would be introduced later. It also added a note for ZimaOS 1.2.3 users to choose Registered User and enter the correct username and password.

That note marked the transition toward the current authentication model. Today, do not assume every ZimaOS SMB share should be anonymous. Create member accounts when you need access control.

Copy the Correct Share Address

After creating the share, ZimaOS provides an address appropriate for the client operating system. Use the address shown by your current ZimaOS interface rather than copying an old IP or path from a screenshot.

Typical formats are conceptually similar to:

Windows:

\\ZIMAOS_IP\SHARE_NAME

macOS / Linux:

smb://ZIMAOS_IP/SHARE_NAME

Connect from Windows File Explorer

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Enter the Windows SMB address supplied by ZimaOS.
  3. When prompted, enter the member username and password assigned to the share.
  4. Choose whether Windows should remember the credentials on a trusted personal computer.

Current ZimaOS documentation supports entering the member credentials directly when accessing a protected share.

The Original Zima Client Windows Workflow

The 2024 tutorial also used the older Zima desktop client. Users installed the Zima application, selected Scan and Connect to Zima, authenticated, and then chose Open in File Explorer to mount the shared folder automatically.

That workflow is useful historical context, but the current desktop client is ZimaClient and its UI has evolved. Manual SMB access through File Explorer remains a standard and transparent way to test the share independently of the desktop client.

Connect from macOS Finder

On macOS:

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Press Command + K or choose Go > Connect to Server.
  3. Enter the SMB address, for example smb://ZIMAOS_IP/SHARE_NAME.
  4. Choose the appropriate authentication option.
  5. For a protected share, enter the ZimaOS member account and password.
  6. Click Connect.

The mounted share then appears in Finder's sidebar.

If macOS Keeps Rejecting the Correct Password

Current ZimaOS SMB troubleshooting documentation records a macOS 14.x credential-cache issue. After one failed authentication attempt, macOS can continue reusing cached information even when the correct credentials are entered later.

See the current ZimaOS SMB Help Document for the current cache workaround and server-side checks.

If Windows Keeps Reusing the Wrong SMB Account

Current ZimaOS documentation recommends clearing old SMB connection records before saving new credentials. For example:

net use \\ZIMAOS_IP\ /delete /y

Then reconnect with the intended member account. Do not paste real passwords into public screenshots or support posts.

Do Windows and ZimaOS Need to Be on the Same LAN?

The original tutorial emphasized that the straightforward Windows mounting flow expected the Windows computer and ZimaOS to be on the same local network.

That is still the normal SMB design for a home NAS. SMB can technically be routed across networks, but directly exposing SMB ports to the public internet is unsafe and should not be used as a basic remote-access strategy.

What About Direct Connections and Remote Networks?

The original tutorial ended by noting that ZimaOS could also be reached through direct and WAN-style networks. Those networking models are covered separately from basic SMB sharing.

For current remote access, use the supported ZimaOS/ZimaClient remote-access workflow rather than forwarding SMB directly from the router.

Guest vs Member: Which Should You Use?

Access type Best for Security model
Member Personal, family, team, or business shares Named account and password with assigned permissions
Guest Low-risk LAN content where anonymous access is intentional No dedicated member identity

For most private files, member-based access is the better default.

ZimaOS SMB Sharing Checklist

  1. Create or select the folder in the ZimaOS Files app.
  2. Choose Share Samba.
  3. Select Member or Guest intentionally.
  4. Choose Read or Read & Write permission.
  5. Copy the address generated for the client's operating system.
  6. On Windows, open the UNC address in File Explorer.
  7. On macOS, use Finder's Connect to Server.
  8. If authentication fails, clear cached credentials before changing server permissions.
  9. Do not expose SMB directly to the public internet for ordinary remote access.

ZimaOS SMB FAQ

Are Samba and SMB the same thing?

SMB is the network protocol. Samba is the open-source implementation used on Linux systems such as ZimaOS to provide SMB-compatible file sharing.

Do I have to use Guest access?

No. The original 2024 tutorial began with guest access, but current ZimaOS supports member accounts and per-share permissions.

Can I map a ZimaOS folder in Windows Explorer?

Yes. Use the Windows SMB address provided by ZimaOS and authenticate with the member account assigned to the share when required.

Can macOS mount the same ZimaOS share?

Yes. Use Finder's Command + K workflow with the SMB address generated by ZimaOS.

Should I forward SMB ports to access the NAS remotely?

No as a normal home-server practice. Use a secure remote-access solution instead of directly exposing SMB to the public internet.