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File Explorer

Note: This function may differ depending on the ADM version in use.

File Explorer comes pre-installed with ADM and can be used to browse and manage the files on your NAS. File Explorer displays accessible directories to users based on the access rights that are assigned to them. Additionally, ADM supports three simultaneously open File Explorer windows. You can easily make copies of files by dragging and dropping them into a different File Explorer window.

Keyboard shortcuts now supported in File Explorer. Use a keyboard to cut, copy, paste, select all, delete and rename files and folders. Enter, Backspace and arrow keys are also available for navigation.

  • ISO Mounting: You no longer need to burn ISO files onto CDs in order to read them. Now you can select ISO files from your NAS and directly mount them to shared folders ("read only" access rights). You can then use your computer to access and read them. Later, when you are finished with the files, simply unmount them.
  • Permissions: Right-clicking on a file or folder and then selecting "Properties" followed by the "Permissions" tab will allow you to configure detailed access permissions for the file or folder.
    • If the top-level shared folder does not have Windows ACL enabled, the options for configuring permissions will be:
      • Owner: The owner of the folder or file
      • Group: The group that has been assigned to the folder or file
      • Others: All other users on the system or network that are not owners or part of the group that has been assigned to the folder or file.

      The permission types that you will be able to configure are: RW (Read & Write), RO (Read Only) and DA (Deny Access).

    • If the top-level shared folder has Windows ACL enabled, you will be able to configure file permissions for all users and groups. In total, there will be 13 types of configurable permissions. These types of permissions are as follows:

      Reminder: An individual file or folder can utilize up to a maximum of 250 Windows ACL permissions (including inherited permissions).

      Traverse folder / execute file
      List folder / read data
      Read attributes
      Read extended attributes
      Create files / write data
      Create folders / append data
      Write attributes
      Write extended attributes
      Delete
      Delete subfolders and files
      Read permissions
      Change permissions
      Take ownership
    • Include inheritable permissions from this object's parent: This option is enabled by default. The system will automatically configure sub folders and files to inherit permissions from the object above it. Disabling this option will reject all inheritable permissions and only keep newly added permissions.
    • Replace all child object permissions with inheritable permissions from this object: Enabling this option will replace all sub folder and file permissions with ones from the parent object.
    • Effective Permissions: Clicking on this button and then selecting a user from the list will allow you to view the user's effective permissions with regards to the specified folder or file.
  • External Optical Drive: After connecting an external optical drive (CD, DVD, Blu-ray) to your NAS via USB, you can use File Explorer to directly access any files that you have backed up to optical media and even transfer files from your optical media to your NAS via drag and drop for future access.

    Note:

    1. This function only provides data access and does not support the audio and video playback of optical media.
    2. Certain optical drives will require additional power in order to operate properly. If you find that your optical drive is not spinning or reading correctly, please use a USB Y-cable to add additional power.
  • External Devices: Here you can view and format all USB or eSATA external hard drives that are connected to your NAS. Supported file systems are as follows:
    • FAT32: for use with Windows and macOS
    • NTFS: for use with Windows
    • HFS+: for use with macOS
    • EXT4: for use with Linux
    • Btrfs: for use with Linux
    • exFAT: for use with Windows, macOS and Linux.

    The exFAT license is required if using ADM 3.5 and previous version.

    Reminder: If your device cannot be detected, please try connecting again using another cable or port.

  • Virtual Drive: You can mount an ISO image file (.iso file) as a virtual drive and directly browse the content of the ISO image file. ADM’s virtual drive function also provides simplified access control settings allowing you to either configure access for all users or limit access to only administrators.
  • CIFS Folder: Here, you will be able to view all CIFS folders (including personal CIFS folders you have mounted and shared CIFS folders mounted by administrators).
    • If you are a regular user that requires use of the CIFS folder mounting service, please contact the system administrator to grant the associated permissions.
    • When a remote server supports the CIFS protocol, the server's remote folders can be mounted.
    • The maximum number of simultaneously mounted CIFS folders is 50.
  • Recycle Bins: Here you can access the enabled Network Recycle Bins of all shared folders.
  • Snapshots: File Explorer is able to directly mount volume and MyArchive snapshots to browse different versions of files from different points in time. Snapshot access in File Explorer makes it easy to restore and organize files contained within snapshots in the event of corruption, damage or unintentional modifications.
  • EZ Sync: EZ Sync support has been added to File Explorer to make synchronized files directly accessible. With File Explorer, files and folders can be dragged and dropped directly to and from EZ Sync folders, making EZ Sync easier than ever to use.
  • Share Links: Share Links in ADM allow you to share files with people who don't have accounts on your ASUSTOR NAS. Not only can data be shared with others for downloading, but new share links can be set to allow the uploading of files from friends, family and clients to share files to your NAS. An account is not required and share links remain restricted only to where you allow uploads to be placed. Use share links on ADM 4.2 to conveniently share files from and to your ASUSTOR NAS.
    • Share Links for downloads: Select one or multiple files or folders to be shared, right-click to open the menu.
      • Single Share Link: The multiple shared files and folders will be listed on one single link.
      • Separate Share Links: Each selected file or folder will have its own link.
    • Share Links for uploads: Select a folder to store uploaded files, right-click to open the context menu.

    Note: Only system administrators can create Share Links for uploading.

  • Share Link Manager: A selected share link can acquire a QR code, be removed, copied and modified here.
  • Preview: Select a video, audio, image, or document to preview content on a web browser. Video, audio, and image format support varies with different web browsers. Your mileage may vary.
    EZ-Connect is required to preview Office documents, spreadsheets and slideshow presentations online. Use Google Docs or Microsoft Office Online to view documents, spreadsheets or slideshow presentations directly on a web browser. The supported file formats are as follows: (Introduced in ADM 4.2.2)
    • Google Docs: doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, pdf, tif
    • Microsoft Office Online: docx, dotx, xlsx, xlsb, xls, xlsm, pptx, ppsx, ppt, pps

WORM shared folders

If the WORM settings of a WORM shared folder and its subfolders or files are still allowed to be modified, the WORM settings that are still allowed to be modified will be displayed in the context menu of the folder or files:

WORM System Requirements: AS52, 53, 54, Lockerstor, Lockerstor Gen2, Lockerstor Pro, Flashstor.

  • Lock immediately:
    For folders or files that are not set to auto lock or whose auto lock time has not expired, you can lock the file immediately here. Folders or files whose original lock retention period has expired can also be locked again here. You need to set the lock retention period and lock status while locking them.
  • Extend lock:
    For folders or files whose lock retention period is not permanently locked, the lock retention period can be extended here. The lock retention period can only be extended, not shortened.
  • Lock Settings:
    During the lock retention period, for folders or files whose lock status is set to "Append-only" can only be changed to "Immutable" here. It is not possible to reverse this action.

WORM shared folders, subfolders, and files will display individual WORM lock status within their properties dialog box.


Learn More

NAS 223: Sharing Files to and from an ASUSTOR NAS with Share Links

NAS 351: Using WORM Shared Folders