File sharing issue on Mac OS Big Sur

[sambam_04]

Hi guys,

I have an issue with my file shares. I am sharing some folders from a Mac Mini to a couple of MacBooks (5) all running Big Sur. I have created different users (for sharing purposes). I have given all users read & write permissions.

What happens when User A creates a sub-folder or a file in a shared folder that User A, User B, User C, User D and User E all have access to; none of the other users can open or edit that file. But when I go to the get info of the parent folder, click on the lock (put admin password) then click on the icon with three dots and select apply to all enclosed items, everything works. However I have to do this everytime whenever either of the users edits & saves a file that is already in the shared folder.

Is there anybody who has experienced this? And how did you resolve it? I am looking for a permanent solution that will allow all sub-folders and files to inherit permissions of the parent folder.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

The way you want to have multiple users to access shared folder is to do things at the Group level. Permissions on all Unix-based systems follow the User/Group/World scheme. A user is given read/write access to their files/folders. If you give the group read access, then any other user who belongs to the same group can access the files/folders. If you give world read access, then anyone can access the files/folders.

By default on macOS, you end up in the group called Staff and if you type the command "id" on the Terminal, you'll see what groups a user is assigned to. On my Big Sur machine I get:

uid=501(<my username>) gid=20(staff) groups=20(staff),12(everyone),61(localaccounts),79(_appserverusr),80(admin),81(_appserveradm),98(_lpadmin),399(com.apple.access_ssh),33(_appstore),100(_lpoperator),204(_developer),250(_analyticsusers),395(com.apple.access_ftp),398(com.apple.access_screensharing),400(com.apple.access_remote_ae),701(com.apple.sharepoint.group.1)

UID is "User ID", GID is "Group ID" and groups lists out all the groups I belong to.

So for the users you've created on the Mac Mini, ensure they all belong to the same group (you can create a new group if you wish) and then assign ownership of the folder at the top-most level to the shared group.

Now as each user creates files/folders, it will be marked as them as the owner of the file, but the group will also be marked and others can access the files.

 

[sambam_04]

The way you want to have multiple users to access shared folder is to do things at the Group level. Permissions on all Unix-based systems follow the User/Group/World scheme. A user is given read/write access to their files/folders. If you give the group read access, then any other user who belongs to the same group can access the files/folders. If you give world read access, then anyone can access the files/folders.

By default on macOS, you end up in the group called Staff and if you type the command "id" on the Terminal, you'll see what groups a user is assigned to. On my Big Sur machine I get:

uid=501(<my username>) gid=20(staff) groups=20(staff),12(everyone),61(localaccounts),79(_appserverusr),80(admin),81(_appserveradm),98(_lpadmin),399(com.apple.access_ssh),33(_appstore),100(_lpoperator),204(_developer),250(_analyticsusers),395(com.apple.access_ftp),398(com.apple.access_screensharing),400(com.apple.access_remote_ae),701(com.apple.sharepoint.group.1)

UID is "User ID", GID is "Group ID" and groups lists out all the groups I belong to.

So for the users you've created on the Mac Mini, ensure they all belong to the same group (you can create a new group if you wish) and then assign ownership of the folder at the top-most level to the shared group.

Now as each user creates files/folders, it will be marked as them as the owner of the file, but the group will also be marked and others can access the files.

Let me try and do that I will revert back shortly.

 

[sambam_04]

Let me try and do that I will revert back shortly.

I have tried this to no success. Do you think maybe I should downgrade from Big Sur to High Sierra?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

I have tried this to no success. Do you think maybe I should downgrade from Big Sur to High Sierra?

Did this work with High Sierra?

 

[ferrarr]

On the Mac Mini, why not used the Shared users folder as a keep all for the other users to use?

 

[sambam_04]

Did this work with High Sierra?

Let me get back to you on that one by this coming Wednesday.

 

[sambam_04]

Let me get back to you on that one by this coming Wednesday.

Did not work with High Sierra, Sierra or El Capitan. I am going to try Yosemite/Mavericks today

 

[Raz0rEdge]

If it didn't work with those 3, it isn't going to work with any other.

So I guess the real question is, had you every had this working or are you setting this up for the first time?

 

[sambam_04]

If it didn't work with those 3, it isn't going to work with any other.

So I guess the real question is, had you every had this working or are you setting this up for the first time?

It's my first time setting it up from scratch.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

To ensure that we can all follow along (if we have multiple Macs to play with), the steps you followed are.

On Mac Mini

• Create 5 users
• Enable File Sharing
  • Share a particular folder
  • Select the 5 users on the system and give all of them Read/Write access

On Mac 1:

• Connect to shared folder as User A
• Create a file/folder
• Be able to access file/folder

On Mac 2:

• Connect to shared folder as User B
• Unable to access file/folder created by User A

On Mac Mini

• As Admin apply permissions to all enclosed items
• User B can now access the file/folders created by User A

Does that sum up what you've done/tried? If so, I'll try it with my Mac Mini and MBP and report back.

 

[sambam_04]

To ensure that we can all follow along (if we have multiple Macs to play with), the steps you followed are.

On Mac Mini

• Create 5 users
• Enable File Sharing
  • Share a particular folder
  • Select the 5 users on the system and give all of them Read/Write access

On Mac 1:

• Connect to shared folder as User A
• Create a file/folder
• Be able to access file/folder

On Mac 2:

• Connect to shared folder as User B
• Unable to access file/folder created by User A

On Mac Mini

• As Admin apply permissions to all enclosed items
• User B can now access the file/folders created by User A

Does that sum up what you've done/tried? If so, I'll try it with my Mac Mini and MBP and report back.

Yes this is 100% correct. So if User A creates or edits a file the User B can't access until I apply permissions as Admin.

 

[sambam_04]

To ensure that we can all follow along (if we have multiple Macs to play with), the steps you followed are.

On Mac Mini

• Create 5 users
• Enable File Sharing
  • Share a particular folder
  • Select the 5 users on the system and give all of them Read/Write access

On Mac 1:

• Connect to shared folder as User A
• Create a file/folder
• Be able to access file/folder

On Mac 2:

• Connect to shared folder as User B
• Unable to access file/folder created by User A

On Mac Mini

• As Admin apply permissions to all enclosed items
• User B can now access the file/folders created by User A

Does that sum up what you've done/tried? If so, I'll try it with my Mac Mini and MBP and report back.

Hi Ashwin, did you manage to give this a try?

 

[sambam_04]

Finally found a solution. I downgraded the Mac mini to Yosemite and installed macOS Server app from the App store. Had to downgrade because the newer version of macOS Server app (in Big Sur) doesn't have file sharing features and a ton of other features.