Documentation about all ways to transfer files from/to DietPi

[echable9999]

RPi3b+, latest DietPi, fresh OS install.

If you mount a drive using dietpi-drive_manager as a menu choice, then the speed test benchmarks you can only do on samba mounts. On NFS mounts error message when attempting benchmarking is "(stand in) syntax error)" and it returns to a results screen without numbers.

I really appreciate the ability to mount drives so early in a new OS install, and the easy low key way it's done. My first thought when setting up my first Raspberry Pi was how could I use its various software to access files stored on my NAS, and I anticipated complex Linux command line and editing important system files - it was such a relief to have it done for you, and so easily, in DietPi.

Some places in DietPi documentation it is erronously stated that you need to install FTP/Samba/NFS file servers for certain functionality, such as providing media file locations for media center software. The server softwares are only needed if you need to access the RPi from something else. The client software, for accessing other stuff from the RPi, either comes preinstalled or is installed when mounting in drive_manager, I am not sure which.

[MichaIng]

@echable9999
I will try to replicate the benchmark on NFS mount.

About the documentation: Yeah it states to install a file server when you want to access media files or transfer them to your device. Of course there are several methods, using a removable drive, or mounting a share from the source system on the DietPi system (so the other way round).

Perhaps we should widen the documentation about this:

• Transferring/Accessing files via external drive => DietPi-Drive_Manager
• Transferring/Accessing files via network share, using DietPi as client => DietPi-Drive_Manager
• Transferring/Accessing files via network share, using DIetPi as server => DietPi-Software

Actually NFS and SFTP needs to be added to the file server choices: https://dietpi.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=15#p19

[StephanStS]

This could be an issue which is described in the howto section (https://dietpi.com/docs/usage/).
E.g. "How to transfer files to/from a DietPi system".

I would propose to structure it the following:

• Transferring to/from UNIX systems
• Transferring to/from Windows systems
• Transferring to/from Mac OS systems

Then describe in subsections the various basic mounting options (like NTFS, exFAT, FAT32 at Windows, HFS+ at Mac OS) and not also all possible mounting options. Differences between HDD, SSD, USB sticks should not be an issue due to that they are all connected via USB to the Pi derivates. Otherwise, SATA and M2 disk properties, which are different to USB devices need to be described.

[MichaIng]

I think it is was more a question about network shares, like FTP, NFS and Samba, and for completeness SFTP, SCP and SSH, and maybe also including rsync. But at least in case of NFS it is related to filesystem types as well since then server and client system both need to support the filesystem the share points to.

And when filesystem cross-compatibility is handled already, then there is not much to add to have a physical drive/USB stick transfer included with this topic 👍.

---

macOS is btw also a UNIX-like system, while not all UNIX-like OSes support e.g. ext4 (developed for Linux, not supported on macOS). So when differentiating between OSes, I suggest Linux, Windows and macOS. Not sure how e.g. BSD fits into this, but I think it is mostly compatible with Linux in this regards.

---

When its about types of drives, the only important thing, if at all, is whether its a spinning disk or not, which impacts the filesystem choice theoretically.

[StephanStS]

Yes, I aggree. I forgot all these options with FTP etc.