NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
What is the function of this on my Readyshare USB drive?
I have a 7000 router with a ReadyShare USB SSD. My Windows 10 File Explorer shows the following folders. I do not know what they are or how they got there. Does anyone know if they would be serving some function?
4 Replies
StanH wrote:
I have a 7000 router with a ReadyShare USB SSD.
Which "7000" is that?
ReadyShare is Netgear's way of sharing files on drives plugged into the USB ports on the router.
Plug that USB drive into a PC and you will see the same files.
Manuals are always a good place to start.
Visit the support pages:
Support | NETGEAR
Feed in your model number and check the documentation for your hardware.
Look for the model number on the label on the device.
Check the section in the manual about ReadySHARE.This is the file system representation of the DLNA Server (ReadyDLNA) database.
This is the result of ReadyMedia (formerly known as MiniDLNA), a simple media server software, with the aim of being fully compliant with DLNA/UPnP-AV clients. It was originally developed by a NETGEAR employee for the ReadyNAS product line, later implemented on the Nighthawk routers, to be withdrawn about two or three years ago on the .88 firmware.
You still can see the file system representation of the DLNA server, even if the DLNA server is no longer in place.
ReadyMedia (formerly known as MiniDLNA) is a simple media server software, with the aim of being fully compliant with DLNA/UPnP-AV clients. It was originally developed by a NETGEAR employee for the ReadyNAS product line.
It's not possible to remove the emulated file system content by simply deleting this specific tree.
R7000 Firmware Version 1.0.9.88
Please note that starting with this firmware release (V1.0.9.88), iTunesServer, Kwilt Photosharing, Time Machine Backup, TiVo support for media sharing, and the Downloader feature (which was in beta) are no longer supported. If you want to continue using these features, do not update the firmware.
New Features and Enhancements:
- Supports NETGEAR Armor
- Removes the following features: iTunes Server, Downloader, Time Machine, Kwilt, TiVo, and DLNA
R7000, Firmware Version 1.0.1.126
My goal is to simplify a messy directory structure of the connected USB SSD by removing unneeded folders. I suspect that the hierarchy of folders that I posted above is something that I don't need or use, but I want to be more sure. I am wondering if I would lose some capability or if it is safe to just delete it. If I make that change, are those folders part of a system that should be changed also.Also, is there an effect on performance of the router. I do have a problem where sometimes the router seems to go to sleep, or sometime it's just the ReadyShare that unavailable, or sometime it's that one of my two computers can't see the other (one WiFi and one Ethernet.) To fix, it usually works to restart the router.
StanH wrote:
My goal is to simplify a messy directory structure of the connected USB SSD by removing unneeded folders. I suspect that the hierarchy of folders ...
As i said before: This is the file system representation of the DLNA Server (ReadyDLNA) database. This folder structure does not exist on the USB storage device, with the exception of the hidden folder .ReadyShare
A possible "fix" to get rid of it might be to re-format the USB storage on a Windows or a MacOS computer. Mind you, folders you need need to be recreated.
Before doing so, go to the R7000 -> ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage > Media Server and disable the DLNA Media Server.
