Ape Apps

I have the latest version, 2.7.7 [paid]; I only use Linux; all my computers are networked (using samba...long story), and on the same Wi-Fi network as all my Android devices.

At various times, spanning multiple Android devices/versions, Network Browser has been unreliable in connecting to my computers. For brevity, I'll only refer to two of them: a System76 laptop and a Compaq desktop; their respective, static IP addresses are 192.168.1.123 and 192.168.1.108. I've shared each one's root directory, /, so everything is accessible from any device connecting to them. My naming convention for shares looks like this: system76All, compaqAll, etc.

At one point I was able to manually add the laptop to NB, naming the connection 'System76' and [somehow] supplying its share name in its NB settings.

When NB scans for networked computers, it finds both, listing them as:

192.168.1.108
Server

and

System76
Server (192.168.1.123/)

As you can see, the latter -looks- like my manually-created entry; however, selecting it brings up a list of entries, including networked printers and system76All--I have to select that to actually get to the laptop. I don't want that extra step.

But the bigger problem is the other entry, 192.168.1.108. Selecting it opens a 'new connection' window. I fill it out as completely--and 100% accurately--as I can, considering it doesn't allow me to enter its share name. (I tried 192.168.1.108/compaqAll and got 'invalid IP address'--this is why I said 'somehow' regarding the manual connection I made, called System76; I don't know now how/where I entered its share name, because I definitely can't do it now!) Selecting this entry after filling out its info always yields a 'connection failure,' saying it couldn't connect using the settings I provided. What's up with that? As I said, I've provided its -correct- info, but it fails...always.

All my other Android apps that can access networked computers, such as file managers and image-related stuff, connect using the exact same credentials except, as noted, there's no way to specify its share name in NB.

Sorry for the extraordinarily long post, but I wanted to be thorough! As it is right now, NB is essentially useless, and considering that I paid for it, I'd like to be able to use it, you know?

If screenshots would help, please let me know.

ETA: Updated today, 11/02/19, to v2.7.8--same results.

@LinuxSince1991 The New Connection window will validate the IP address when it tries to make a new connection. So it will only let you put in a full IP address, not a full network path.

I suppose I could put in an option to add a full SMB path like you would on a linux file manager, maybe that would help.

Have you tried SMB1 mode, if that makes any difference?

bastecklein said:Have you tried SMB1 mode, if that makes any difference?

That's how it's almost always been set. Changing it has no effect.

NB is definitely seeing the Compaq, hence its displaying the Compaq's IP address when it scans...it just refuses to connect. Any other ideas?

Oh, sorry for the snarky tweet, but I was a bit annoyed. :)

LinuxSince1991 said:

bastecklein said:Have you tried SMB1 mode, if that makes any difference?

That's how it's almost always been set. Changing it has no effect.

NB is definitely seeing the Compaq, hence its displaying the Compaq's IP address when it scans...it just refuses to connect. Any other ideas?

Oh, sorry for the snarky tweet, but I was a bit annoyed. :)

I just published an update, let me know if it helps when you get it.

bastecklein said:I just published an update, let me know if it helps when you get it.

It didn't; I tried with/without SMB1.

And you're going to love this! Now it's not even seeing the Compaq (and, like before, a manual connection fails), -and- for some directories on the System76, it's showing all files as 0 bytes...

I hope these help with troubleshooting.

Tonight I tried again, and NB saw the Compaq (192.168.1.108):


Selecting it showed the Compaq's share name, compaqAll. (For some reason, its screenshot isn't uploading when I 'attach' it; too small?)

Alright! I thought! We're making progress. Then I selected it...and got this error message:


I tried again; this time, selecting the Compaq brought up a 'new connection' box; I entered its correct credentials...and got this error message:



If there's any other info that would be helpful, let me know.

Thanks, I will keep messing with it.

You're welcome. Please let me know if there are any files or other info I can post that might help narrow this down.

Just thought I'd update this since I installed the latest update (2.7.10) today...and got the same result as before.

It sees both computers, I select the Compaq (192.168.1.108), it sees its shared directory (compaqAll), and then fails with the same error message. Very frustrating!