Introduction

OpenMediaVault (OMV) is a powerful open-source NAS (Network Attached Storage) solution that allows you to create and share files over a network. This guide will walk you through the complete installation process, setting up shared folders, and accessing them from Windows and Google TV.

Prerequisites

  • A server or virtual machine running Debian 12 (Bookworm) Minimal
  • Static or reserved IP address for OMV
  • SSH access to the server
  • A second storage device (HDD/SSD) for file sharing

Step 1: Install OpenMediaVault (OMV)

1.1 Update the System

First, ensure your Debian system is updated:

apt update && apt upgrade -y

1.2 Install Required Packages

If sudo is not installed, install it and add your user to the sudo group:

su -
apt install -y sudo
usermod -aG sudo yourusername
exit

1.3 Download and Install OMV

Run the following command to download and install OMV: (Make sure with root user or user with root permitions or use sudo before command if non root user

apt-get install --yes gnupg
wget --quiet --output-document=- https://packages.openmediavault.org/public/archive.key | gpg --dearmor --yes --output "/usr/share/keyrings/openmediavault-archive-keyring.gpg"

This script will automatically configure OMV and set up the necessary services.

Add the package repositories:
This step has been adjusted to target sandworm instead of shaitan.

cat <<EOF >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/openmediavault.list
deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/openmediavault-archive-keyring.gpg] https://packages.openmediavault.org/public sandworm main
# deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/openmediavault-archive-keyring.gpg] https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/openmediavault/packages sandworm main
## Uncomment the following line to add software from the proposed repository.
# deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/openmediavault-archive-keyring.gpg] https://packages.openmediavault.org/public sandworm-proposed main
# deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/openmediavault-archive-keyring.gpg] https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/openmediavault/packages sandworm-proposed main
## This software is not part of OpenMediaVault, but is offered by third-party
## developers as a service to OpenMediaVault users.
# deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/openmediavault-archive-keyring.gpg] https://packages.openmediavault.org/public sandworm partner
# deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/openmediavault-archive-keyring.gpg] https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/openmediavault/packages sandworm partner
EOF

Install the openmediavault package:

export LANG=C.UTF-8
export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
export APT_LISTCHANGES_FRONTEND=none
apt-get update
apt-get --yes --auto-remove --show-upgraded \
    --allow-downgrades --allow-change-held-packages \
    --no-install-recommends \
    --option DPkg::Options::="--force-confdef" \
    --option DPkg::Options::="--force-confold" \
    install openmediavault

Populate the openmediavault database with several existing system settings, e.g. the network configuration:

omv-confdbadm populate

Re-deploy the network configuration via the services used by openmediavault:

omv-salt deploy run systemd-networkd

for more information refer github url here

1.4 Reboot the Server

Once the installation completes, reboot your server:

sudo reboot

1.5 Access OMV Web Interface

  • Open a browser and go to: http://<server-ip> (e.g., http://192.168.1.245)
  • Default Login Credentials:
    • Username: admin
    • Password: openmediavault
  • Change the default password after the first login.

Step 2: Mount a Storage Drive

To share files, you need to mount your second HDD/SSD.

  1. Navigate to: Storage > Disks
  2. Select your second storage device and click Wipe (Choose Quick wipe).
  3. Go to Storage > File Systems and click Create.
  4. Choose your newly wiped disk and select a file system:
    • ext4 (Recommended for general use)
    • BTRFS (For snapshots & advanced features)
  5. Click Mount and Apply changes.

Step 3: Create a Shared Folder

  1. Navigate to: Access Rights Management > Shared Folders
  2. Click Add and set:
    • Name: MediaShare
    • Device: Select your mounted disk
    • Path: Leave default
    • Permissions: Everyone: Read/Write
  3. Click Save and Apply.

Step 4: Enable SMB/CIFS for Windows Sharing

  1. Go to: Services > SMB/CIFS
  2. Enable SMB service and configure:
    • Workgroup: WORKGROUP (Same as Windows default)
    • Enable WINS support (optional but recommended)
  3. Go to: Shares tab and click Add.
  4. Select MediaShare folder and set permissions:
    • Public: Guests Allowed (or No for secure access)
    • Browsable: Yes
    • Read-Only: No
  5. Click Save and Apply.

New User Creation

Recommended to create seperate user for sharing

go to openmediavault>Users> +Create|Import

Step 5: Access the Shared Folder from Windows

5.1 Manually Connect to the Share

  1. Press Win + R and type:
    \\192.168.1.225
  2. Press Enter and log in with your OMV credentials.

5.2 Map Network Drive (Optional)

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Right-click This PC > Map Network Drive.
  3. Set the path as \\192.168.1.225\MediaShare.
  4. Check Reconnect at sign-in and click Finish.

Accessing OMV Shared Folder on TV (check out step 6 for Example setup)

1. Smart TV with SMB Support (Samsung, LG, etc.)

  • Some Smart TVs support SMB file sharing directly.

  • Open the File Explorer or Media Player app on your TV.

  • Select Network and look for OMV (192.168.1.225).

  • Browse and play your media files.

2. Using Kodi (Best for Media Playback)

  • Install Kodi on your TV or media device.

  • Go to Files > Add Videos.

  • Choose Browse > Add network location.

  • Select SMB and enter:

    • Server Address: 192.168.1.225

    • Shared Folder: MediaShare

    • Username/Password: (if required)

  • Save and browse your media files.

3. Using VLC Player (For Android TV, Firestick)

  • Open VLC Media Player.

  • Go to Local Network and scan for SMB shares.

  • Select 192.168.1.225/MediaShare and play files.

4. Using DLNA/UPnP (Universal for TVs)

  • Enable DLNA in OMV:

    • Install the MiniDLNA plugin in OMV (Services > Plugins > minidlna).

    • Go to Services > MiniDLNA, enable it, and set the media folder (/srv/dev-disk-by-label-MediaShare).

  • On your TV, go to Media Server or DLNA.

  • Select OMV MiniDLNA and browse your files.

Step 6: Access the Shared Folder from Google TV (Nova Video Player) (our Example)

If you’re using Nova Video Player on Google TV, follow these steps:

  1. To access the shared folder from Google TV using Nova Video Player, follow these steps:

    1. Open Nova Video Player and go to Network.
    2. Select SMBJ as the connection type.
    3. Enter the following details:
      FieldValue
      Remote address192.168.1.225
      Port445
      PathMediaShare (or your actual share name)
      Usernameadmin (or your OMV user)
      Passwordyourpassword
      Domain(Leave empty)
    4. Click OK to save and test the connection.

    ✅ You should now see your shared folder and be able to stream media files on your Google TV.

Troubleshooting & Common Errors

1. Unable to Access the Shared Folder from Windows

✅ Solution:

  • Ensure SMB/CIFS is enabled in Services > SMB/CIFS.
  • Run Win + R and enter \\192.168.1.225.
  • Check Windows Defender Firewall > Allow File and Printer Sharing (SMB).

2. SMB/CIFS Not Showing Up in Windows

✅ Solution:

  • Enable Network Discovery: Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced Sharing Settings.
  • Run services.msc and restart Workstation Service.

3. Permissions Issues on the Shared Folder

✅ Solution:

  • Change folder permissions to allow Everyone Read/Write in Access Rights Management > Shared Folders.

4. Cannot See the Shared Folder on Other Devices

✅ Solution:

  • If using Android, install Cx File Explorer and connect via SMB.
  • For Kodi, add the network path smb://192.168.1.225/MediaShare.
  • For Google TV, follow the Nova Video Player steps in Step 6.

5. No IPv4 Address on the OMV Server

✅ Solution:

  • Run ip a and ensure an IPv4 address is assigned.
  • If missing, edit /etc/network/interfaces and set a static IP.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you have successfully installed OpenMediaVault, set up a shared folder, and made it accessible over the network. Now, you can use your OMV server as a home NAS for storing and streaming media. 🚀

Next Steps

🔹 Install Docker & Portainer on OMV for running apps like qBittorrent, Jellyfin, JDownloader. (Coming soon!)

Got issues? Let us know in the comments! ⬇️

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