topic Re: usb drive as network storage for old sonos system in My Router

usb drive as network storage for old sonos system

GGLL — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:11:43 GMT

I need to configure my plusnet hub 2 so that I can share a music library on a usb drive plugged into the hub2.

The library is for use with an old Sonos1 system so I believe it needs to be configured for SMB1 (whatever that is)

Is this feasible?

Admin pages on the hub2 show the usb drive but no options to share it across the network.

Re: usb drive as network storage for old sonos system

pvmb — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:09:49 GMT

@GGLL

Ah... This is an old question - sorry if I can't remember the full technical answer off the top of my head.

I believe the answer is the USB socket on the Hub 2 is of very little or no real use. For various technical reasons. (Outdated protocols?).

Re: usb drive as network storage for old sonos system

markhawkin — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:14:23 GMT

A good discussion of the merits (and otherwise) of this are at

https://community.plus.net/t5/Tech-Help-Software-Hardware-etc/Hub-Two-USB-port/td-p/1967234

Personally I would buy a proper Network Attached Storage box (NAS). It will cost you something but it will be rather better than the USB stick in the Plusnet Hub 2.

Looking on CEX there is a second hand Synology DS118 which might do the job with (say) a WD Red drive.

Re: usb drive as network storage for old sonos system

Dan_the_Van — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:26:49 GMT

@GGLL

The Hub Two only supports SMB1, I beleive the USB drive should already be shared once plugged in.

Try a network discovery, the shared link shows what changes can be made to windows to view the drive on a windows PC.

Re: usb drive as network storage for old sonos system

GGLL — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:38:52 GMT

Thanks to all for your replies.

I think I'll just go and weep gently into my beer, muttering, "Why does it have to be so complicated? All this tech is supposed to make our lives easier, it just SO doesn't"!

I'm going to reprogram my Sonos system with an axe and buy something that isn't Sonos.

Cheers.

GGLL.

Re: usb drive as network storage for old sonos system

mystreet1 — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 17:26:37 GMT

If you have some old hardware, have a look at

https://www.truenas.com/truenas-community-edition/

Re: usb drive as network storage for old sonos system

RobPN — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 18:06:47 GMT

@GGLL wrote:

I'm going to reprogram my Sonos system with an axe and buy something that isn't Sonos.

@GGLL

Not something I've ever owned or used, but what about looking online for a USB over Ethernet server device?

You might find something suitable here - USB Network Server (USB over Ethernet)

Or perhaps a similar search.

Re: usb drive as network storage for old sonos system

MisterW — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 07:01:30 GMT

@GGLL whilst I agree with many of the comments above that the Hub 2 is generally not a good solution for a NAS.

In your case it ought to work with the SOnos.

With a usb drive connected, I believe the network share from the Hub 2 will show as //<hub-ip>/usb1 so if the hub is using the defaults it will be //192.168.1.254/usb1 . There's some thoughts that a username of guest is required

Re: usb drive as network storage for old sonos system

GGLL — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:36:20 GMT

Thanks MisterW.

I'll try and see if my sonos app can see this address. Might not be until later tonight or tomorrow.

Re: usb drive as network storage for old sonos system

GGLL — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 21:04:55 GMT

OK, tried that, the verbatim response was,

'The computer 192.168.1.254 refused to let the Sonos product connect to it'.

That suggests that it can see the router OK but maybe a firewall is refusing entry?

Next step then, how do I get the firewall to let through requests from the sonos app?

Re: usb drive as network storage for old sonos system

MisterW — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 06:27:39 GMT

@GGLL

Did you try using guest as the username ?

https://support.sonos.com/en-gb/article/use-a-nas-drive-with-sonos