CIFS and SMBFS
The information on this page is updated in accordance with the 00.07.23 firmware version.
Introduction
This guide explains how to mount a remote shared folder on a Teltonika Networks router using the CIFS (Common Internet File System) protocol and SMBFS (Server Message Block File System) - network file sharing protocols that allow devices to access files and directories over a local network, enabling file exchange between the router and other devices such as Windows PCs or Linux machines. Two configuration examples are covered:
- Mounting a shared folder hosted on a Windows PC - the Windows PC hosts the shared folder, and the router mounts it.
- Mounting a shared folder hosted on a Linux device - a Linux machine running Samba hosts the shared folder, and the router mounts it.
Note: Although the Linux mount command uses -t cifs, it is used to mount modern SMB shares (SMB2/SMB3), not only the legacy CIFS (SMB1) protocol.
Setup and prerequisites
- A Teltonika Networks router with the CIFS/SMBFS filesystem support package installed. The package can be installed through the router WebUI by navigating to System → Package Manager and installing the CIFS/SMBFS filesystem support package.
- A Windows or Linux computer connected to the same LAN as the router.
- SSH access to the router.
Windows PC as file server
This section explains how to configure the router as a CIFS client and mount a shared folder hosted on a Windows 11 machine.
Topology
Windows 11 machine - acts as the file server. The RUTM16 connects to the Windows 11 machine over the local network and mounts a shared folder.
Create the folder you want to share. In this example, C:\testCIFS is used.
Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:
New-SmbShare -Name "testCIFS" -Path "C:\testCIFS" -FullAccess "Authenticated Users"
Verify the share is active:
net share
You should see testCIFS listed with the path C:\testCIFS.
Step 2: Create a local Windows user for CIFS authentication
To create a local user account, open the Windows Start menu and search for "Local Users and Groups", or press Win + R, type lusrmgr.msc, and press Enter. Or use PowerShell:
$password = ConvertTo-SecureString "CIFSuser11!" -AsPlainText -Force New-LocalUser -Name "cifuser" -Password $password -FullName "CIFS User" -PasswordNeverExpires
Note: If you created the user via the GUI and were prompted to change the password on first login, disable that requirement:
net user cifuser /logonpasswordchg:no Set-LocalUser -Name "cifuser" -PasswordNeverExpires $true
Now grant the user access to the share and the folder. Replace HOSTNAME with your own machine hostname (find it with the hostname command):
Grant-SmbShareAccess -Name "testCIFS" -AccountName "HOSTNAME\cifuser" -AccessRight Full -Force icacls "C:\testCIFS" /grant "HOSTNAME\cifuser:(OI)(CI)F"
Access the router's CLI and create a mount point directory:
mkdir -p /mnt/testcifs
Mount the Windows share using CIFS:
mount -t cifs //192.168.1.7/testCIFS /mnt/testcifs -o username=cifuser,password=CIFSuser11!
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
mount |
Mounts a filesystem and makes it accessible at a local directory |
-t cifs |
Specifies that the filesystem type is CIFS/SMB |
//192.168.1.7/testCIFS |
Windows PC IP address and share name |
/mnt/testcifs |
Local mount point on the router where the share will be accessible |
username=cifuser |
The local Windows user used for CIFS authentication |
password=CIFSuser11! |
Password for that account |
Step 4: Verify the mount
Confirm the share is mounted:
mount | grep cifs df | grep cifs
List the contents:
ls /mnt/testcifs
To unmount:
umount /mnt/testcifs
Linux device as file server
This section explains how to configure the router as a CIFS client and mount a shared folder hosted on a Linux machine running Samba.
Topology
Linux machine - acts as the file server. The RUTM16 connects to the Linux machine over the local network and mounts a Samba shared folder.
Create the directory that will be shared. In this example /home/user/shared is used:
mkdir -p /home/user/shared
Set permissions on the directory. The example below grants full access to all users; restrict this appropriately in production environments:
chmod 777 /home/user/shared
Step 2: Install Samba on Linux
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y samba
Step 3: Create a Samba user
Samba maintains its own password database separate from Linux system accounts. Add your current Linux user to it:
sudo smbpasswd -a $USER
You will be prompted to set a Samba password. This password is used when mounting the share from the router.
Note: The Samba username will match your current Linux username. Run whoami if you are unsure what it is.
Edit the Samba configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
Add the following block at the very end of the file:
[shared] path = /home/user/shared browseable = yes read only = no guest ok = no valid users = user writeable = yes
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
[shared] |
Creates a Samba share named "shared" — this is the name used in the mount path |
path |
Local directory on the Linux machine to be shared |
browseable = yes |
Allows the share to appear in network share listings |
read only = no |
Permits file creation, modification, and deletion |
guest ok = no |
Requires authentication; no anonymous access allowed |
valid users |
Only the specified user is permitted to access the share |
writeable = yes |
Makes the share writable (equivalent to read only = no)
|
Verify the configuration has no syntax errors:
testparm
Apply the configuration by restarting the Samba service:
sudo systemctl restart smbd
If the Linux machine has ufw firewall enabled, allow Samba traffic:
sudo ufw allow samba
Access the router's CLI and create a mount point directory:
mkdir -p /mnt/ubuntu_share
Mount the Samba share using CIFS. Replace 192.168.1.120 with the actual IP address of your Linux machine, and user with your Samba username and password:
mount -t cifs //192.168.1.120/shared /mnt/ubuntu_share -o username=user,password=user
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
mount |
Mounts a filesystem and makes it accessible at a local directory |
-t cifs |
Specifies that the filesystem type is CIFS/SMB |
//192.168.1.120/shared |
Linux machine IP address and Samba share name |
/mnt/ubuntu_share |
Local mount point on the router where the share will be accessible |
username= |
Samba username (matches the Linux system username) |
password= |
Samba password set with smbpasswd
|
Step 6: Verify the mount
Confirm the share is mounted on the router:
mount | grep cifs df | grep cifs
To unmount:
umount /mnt/ubuntu_share