Disposable SMB shares: how to wirelessly exchange files between iOS and Linux devices
While Arch Linux is my preferred OS for Personal Computers, my mobile device is an iPhone SE 1st Gen. Without any apps installed it's a perfectly fine dumb phone, which is just what I need.
Exchanging files with an iOS device works smoothly using libimobiledevice. However, it requires to use a cable each time you want do it. I found it tedious, so I decided to look for a wireless solution.
After some digging I found out, that the Files app in iOS >= 13 supports SMB. Since I didn't want to bother with configuring SAMBA system-wide and bring another package to my Arch Linux installation, I decided to go with disposable SMB shares. Here is how I do it.
Requirements
- An iDevice with iOS >= 13
- A GNU/Linux computer with systemd and Docker
- Both devices connected to the same local network
- IP address of the GNU/Linux computer
Linux side
Create a SMB share:
$ mkdir -p /tmp/ios && cd /tmp/ios
$ sudo systemctl start docker && sudo docker run --name="docker-smb" \
-d --rm --entrypoint "" \
-p 445:445 \
-e "USER=samba" -e "PASS=secret" \
-v `pwd`:/storage dockurr/samba \
bash -c "echo vfs objects = fruit streams_xattr >> /etc/samba/smb.default && samba.sh"
Dispose the share when done:
$ sudo docker stop docker-smb
iOS side
At the first time you'll need to configure the server in the Files app:
NOTE: Remember to set Name/Password as samba/secret.
After that you'll be able to send using Share button and receive using the Files app:
