Skip to content

SMB share

YAOPL can load games from a shared folder on a PC or NAS over the LAN (the ETH Games page). It uses the old SMBv1 protocol, which current systems turn off by default, so the share needs some setup.

On the PC

Create a folder for YAOPL (for example PS2SMB) and share it with read and write permissions. YAOPL creates its folders in it (CD, DVD, CFG, VMC, ...) the first time it connects; copy your games into DVD and CD as described in Adding games.

  1. Turn on SMBv1: Turn Windows features on or off → SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support → SMB 1.0/CIFS Server. Restart the PC.
  2. Right-click the folder → Properties → Sharing → Advanced Sharing: share it, and under Permissions give the account you will use Full Control.
  3. Use a Windows account with a password for YAOPL (User and Password below). Guest access without a password is often blocked by Windows.
  4. Give the PC a fixed address (or a DHCP reservation in the router), so the PS2 always finds it.

Allow SMB1 and the old NTLM logon in /etc/samba/smb.conf, and add a share:

[global]
   server min protocol = NT1
   ntlm auth = ntlmv1-permitted

[PS2SMB]
   path = /srv/ps2smb
   read only = no
   guest ok = yes
   force user = youruser

Restart Samba (sudo systemctl restart smbd). With guest ok = yes, leave User and Password empty in YAOPL; otherwise add a Samba user with sudo smbpasswd -a youruser.

Turn on SMB1 (sometimes called "SMB 1", "CIFS" or "minimum SMB protocol: SMB1") and NTLMv1 in the NAS's file-sharing settings, and create a share with read and write access.

SMBv1 on your network

SMBv1 is old and less secure. Allow it only on a trusted home network, and only for this share if your system lets you.

On the PS2

  1. Main menu → Network Settings. Set up the PS2's address as in Network setup.

  2. In the SMB Server part:

    Field Default What to enter
    Address Type NetBIOS IP (recommended) or NetBIOS
    Address — The PC's IP address, or its NetBIOS (computer) name, up to 16 characters
    Port 445 Change only with a server on another port (Advanced Options)
    Share empty The share name, for example PS2SMB. Leave empty to pick it from a list.
    User empty The account name; empty for guest access
    Password empty The account's password; empty for guest access

  3. Choose OK, then Save Changes in the main menu.

  4. In Settings, set ETH Start Mode to Auto (or Manual) and save again.

The ETH Games page shows the games. With Share left empty, it lists the shares of the server instead: pick one, and YAOPL connects to it. Save Changes to remember it.

After changing the SMB settings while connected, choose Reconnect in Network Settings. When the connection failed, the OK button itself says Reconnect.

ETH Prefix Path in Settings makes YAOPL use a folder inside the share instead of its root.

Errors

Message What to check
300: Cannot connect to SMB server. The address; that the PC is on and SMBv1 is enabled; the firewall (port 445). With NetBIOS, the name could not be found: try the IP address.
301: Cannot log into SMB server. User and password; on Linux, ntlm auth.
303: Cannot open SMB share. The share name and its permissions.
304: Cannot list SMB shares. Listing is not allowed by the server: enter the share name.

Network errors (200, 310, 311) are on the Network setup page.

Notes

  • SMB is slower than an internal HDD; in some games long videos can stutter. UDPBD is a faster network alternative.
  • SMB and UDPBD cannot run at the same time.
  • The SMB password is stored in plain text in conf_network.cfg.