How to Manage Network Shares with Cinnamon Desktop on Linux Mint

Linux Mint is a popular, user-friendly Linux distribution that offers a polished desktop experience. The Cinnamon desktop environment, which is the default for Linux Mint, provides a smooth interface for managing network shares, making file sharing easy across multiple devices.

If you’re looking to set up and manage network shares efficiently on Linux Mint with Cinnamon, this guide will take you through everything you need to know, from connecting to shared folders to setting up your own network shares.

1. Understanding Network Shares in Linux Mint

Network shares allow users to access and share files across different systems in a network. The most common protocols used for network sharing in Linux Mint are:

• Samba (SMB/CIFS) – Primarily used for sharing files with Windows and Linux machines.
• NFS (Network File System) – Ideal for sharing files between Linux-based systems.
• SSHFS (SSH File System) – A secure way to access remote files via SSH.

The Cinnamon desktop provides tools that simplify accessing and managing network shares, but some configurations may require additional steps.

2. Accessing Network Shares in Cinnamon File Manager

Cinnamon uses Nemo, its default file manager, which comes with built-in network browsing capabilities. Here’s how you can access a shared folder on a network:

Step 1: Open Nemo and Browse Network

1. Open Nemo (File Manager).
2. In the left sidebar, click on “Network”.
3. Wait a few moments while the system detects available network devices.

Step 2: Connect to a Shared Folder

1. Double-click on the networked computer or device.
2. If required, enter your username and password.
3. Choose to remember the password for the session or permanently.
4. Click Connect, and the shared folder will open.

💡 Tip: If you know the network share path (e.g., smb://192.168.1.100/shared-folder), you can enter it directly in Nemo’s address bar.

3. Mounting Samba (SMB) Shares in Linux Mint

Samba is the go-to solution for sharing files between Linux and Windows machines.

Step 1: Install Samba and CIFS Utilities

If Samba is not installed, install it by running:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install samba smbclient cifs-utils

Step 2: Mount a Samba Share Temporarily

You can mount a shared folder manually using the mount command:

sudo mount -t cifs -o username=yourusername,password=yourpassword //192.168.1.100/shared-folder /mnt/shared

Replace yourusername and yourpassword with your network credentials, and ensure /mnt/shared exists (sudo mkdir -p /mnt/shared).

Step 3: Auto-Mount Samba Share on Boot

To mount a Samba share at boot, edit the /etc/fstab file:

sudo nano /etc/fstab

Add this line at the bottom:

//192.168.1.100/shared-folder /mnt/shared cifs username=yourusername,password=yourpassword,iocharset=utf8,sec=ntlm 0 0

Save (Ctrl + X, then Y, then Enter) and apply changes:

sudo mount -a

💡 Tip: To store credentials securely, create a /etc/samba/credentials file and reference it in /etc/fstab.

4. Sharing Folders Over the Network (Samba Server Setup)

If you want to share a folder from your Linux Mint system, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install Samba Server

If not installed, set it up with:

sudo apt install samba

Step 2: Configure Samba Sharing

1. Open Nemo and right-click on the folder you want to share.
2. Select Properties > Share tab.
3. Check “Share this folder” and name your share.
4. Enable “Allow others to create and delete files” if needed.
5. Click “Modify Share”, and when prompted, install libnss-winbind.

Alternatively, you can edit the Samba configuration manually:

sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

Add:

[SharedFolder]
   path = /home/yourusername/SharedFolder
   read only = no
   browsable = yes
   guest ok = yes

Save and restart Samba:

sudo systemctl restart smbd

Step 3: Create a Samba User

Run:

sudo smbpasswd -a yourusername

Now, your folder is accessible via smb://your-mint-pc/SharedFolder.

5. Using NFS for Linux-to-Linux Sharing

If you are sharing files between Linux systems, NFS is a great alternative.

Step 1: Install NFS Server

On the server (Linux Mint sharing files):

sudo apt install nfs-kernel-server

Create a shared directory and set permissions:

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/nfs-share
sudo chmod 777 /mnt/nfs-share

Edit the exports file:

sudo nano /etc/exports

Add:

/mnt/nfs-share 192.168.1.0/24(rw,sync,no_root_squash,no_subtree_check)

Apply changes:

sudo exportfs -ra
sudo systemctl restart nfs-kernel-server

Step 2: Mount NFS Share on Client

On the client machine:

sudo apt install nfs-common
sudo mount 192.168.1.100:/mnt/nfs-share /mnt/nfs-client

For auto-mounting, add this to /etc/fstab:

192.168.1.100:/mnt/nfs-share /mnt/nfs-client nfs defaults 0 0

6. Troubleshooting Network Shares in Cinnamon

If you experience issues, try these solutions:

Network Share Not Showing?

• Ensure the share is active:

  sudo systemctl status smbd
  

• Check firewall settings:

  sudo ufw allow Samba
  

Permission Errors?

• Verify user access:

  ls -ld /mnt/shared-folder
  

• Adjust permissions:

  sudo chmod -R 777 /mnt/shared-folder
  

Auto-Mount Not Working?

• Ensure mount -a runs without errors.

• Check /etc/fstab syntax with:

  sudo mount -a
  

Conclusion

Managing network shares on Linux Mint with Cinnamon is straightforward with the right tools. Whether you’re accessing Windows SMB shares, sharing files via Samba, or using NFS for Linux-to-Linux connections, Linux Mint provides a seamless experience.

By setting up auto-mounting and troubleshooting common issues, you ensure a smooth file-sharing environment for personal or professional use. Happy sharing! 🚀

Let me know if you need additional details! 😊