HowTo: OpenMediaVault - Set up external hard disk as drive

As the name of OpenMediaVault suggests, it is all about managing media. Of course, you also need the appropriate storage space for this.

In the article NetworkAttachedStorage / Build your own NAS from a RaspberryPi 4 I used an external USB hard disk for this purpose. However, many other drives can also be used to expand the storage space for your OpenMediaVault installation. Even the internal SD card can be used to make media available on the network.

How to integrate a connected data carrier into OpenMediaVault and create an initial folder share is described in the following article.


Safety instructions

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Requirements

Helpful articles:
Before you start with this article you should have prepared the RaspberryPi so that it is accessible via the network and controllable via SSH.

The following three articles describe what needs to be done to prepare the RaspberryPi:

In the following lists you will find all the parts you need to implement this article.

Required tool:

NumberLink
1xScrewdriver set  Buy at Amazon
1xSD card reader  Buy at Amazon

Required material:

NumberLink
1x Raspberry Pi  Buy at Amazon
1x Raspberry Pi power supply  Buy at Amazon
1x Raspberry Pi case  Buy at Amazon
1x Micro SD card 64GB  Buy at Amazon


Check connected data carriers

Before you can mount the file system of a data carrier, you should first check whether the corresponding data carrier has been recognized correctly.

To do this, switch to the OpenMediaVault web interface and click on the tab

  • Storage

... and

  • disks

If your external hard disk, USB stick or similar is already connected, this drive should already be listed here.

In the example shown on the left, the system drive and an additional external hard disk are listed.

Here you also have the option of reformatting the data carrier (Attention! You should back up the data on the data carrier beforehand).


Integrate file system

If your additional drive has already been recognized, you can continue with mounting the file system.

Click on the tab

  • File Systems

in the category

  • Storage

This list shows all additionally mounted file systems (apart from the system partition which is not shown).

To mount your externally connected drive, first click on the plus symbol in the top left-hand corner.

Then click on

  • Mount

Und wählt in der nächsten Ansicht im DropDown Menü „File System“ die Partition aus, welche Ihr einbinden wollt.

Some external drives have several partitions. You should then take a close look at which one you integrate.

An dieser Stelle könnt Ihr auch einen Grenzwert für die „Speicherwarnung“ einstellen. Sollte der genutzt Speicher diesen Wert überschreiten werdet Ihr (insofern die Benachrichtigung per E-Mail aktiviert ist) darüber benachrichtigt.

Then click on "Save" to apply the settings.

Und bestätigt dies nochmal indem Ihr auf „Yes“ klickt.

Then you have to confirm the changed configuration again by clicking on the checkmark in the yellow area and...

... confirmed this once again.

The partition should now be successfully mounted.

In the example shown, the partition is now listed. You can see the current memory usage and the connection status.


Create folder sharing under OpenMediaVault

Once the partition has been successfully mounted, you can now create your first shared folder or share. This share creates a folder which can later be used with the various plugins and shared via them. For example, the content of the shared folder can be shared via SMB or FTP server.

Go to the category

  • shared folders

Now click on the plus symbol to create a new share.

You will then be redirected to the form shown.
Here you can give the release a name, select on which integrated partition it should be created and also specify the access rights.

Nachdem Ihr alles wie gewünscht eingestellt habt, könnt Ihr die Einstellungen durch einen Klick auf „Save“ übernehmen.

Then you have to confirm the changed configuration again by clicking on the checkmark in the yellow area and...

... confirmed this once again.

How you can then continue to use this release is described, for example, in the article OpenMediaVault - Set up Windows Share or SMB Server described.


More articles related to OpenMediaVault

I have described the many other functions of OpenMediaVault in other articles. There you will also find hints on how to extend the functionality of your OMV installation. These articles are all summarized in the following category.


Have fun with the project

I hope everything worked as described for you. If not or you have questions or suggestions please let me know in the comments. I will then add this to the article if necessary.
Ideas for new projects are always welcome. 🙂

PS Many of these projects - especially the hardware projects - cost a lot of time and money. Of course I do this because I enjoy it, but if you think it's cool that I share the information with you, I would be happy about a small donation to the coffee fund. 🙂

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