Add external storage failed at "action needs authentication failed - wrong password"

ℹ️ Support
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1

The Basics

  • Nextcloud Server version :
    30.0.4
  • Operating system and version
    Ubuntu 24.04:
  • PHP version (e.g, 8.2):
  • Is this the first time you’ve seen this error? (Yes / No):
    Yes
  • When did this problem seem to first start?
    after update from 30.0.2 to 30.0.4
    existing external storage entries are still working

Summary of the issue you are facing:

try to add external storage, which has to be confirmed
This action needs authentication failed - wrong password

Steps to replicate it (hint: details matter!):

password works , when I logout and login
neither local nor smb entries can be added due to confirmation password error

Log entries

[PHP] Error: Undefined array key 1 at /var/www/nextcloud/lib/private/AppFramework/Middleware/Security/PasswordConfirmationMiddleware.php#82
        POST /index.php/apps/files_external/globalstorages
2

Same problem
Fresh install

Xarbot

3

Same problem. Hub 30.0.4 (upgraded via Nextcloud AIO v10.0.2).

BTW, I am using OpenLDAP and TOTP. However, logging out and in works. Updating apps (which requires extra authentication) also works.

4

See [Bug]: Can't save global credentials in external storage · Issue #49829 · nextcloud/server · GitHub

5

Just to be clear. My understanding would be that this is a confirmed bug that may be fixed at some point and a possible workaround would be to reinstall ? Which is not really an attractive option as the installation is only a few days old. But well …

6

Keep in mind most things can be done from the command line. Look up occ files_external in the Admin Manual:

https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/admin_manual/occ_command.html#files-external-label

7

Hello :slight_smile: I Could solve my Issue using this solution (Thanks to jtr) :

Connect to your VM (Shell Linux) hosting your NextCloud. Use SU.
Go to the Folder hosting NextCloud with the occ file. (This step should look evidence for everyone , but I am Noob hahaha, I give advices for Noob :stuck_out_tongue: )

And write this :

Here , you can do this :
sudo -u www-data php occ files_external:list

You can see the bad External Drives and delete it with :
sudo -u www-data php occ files_external:delete X

Then , you can re-create good ones by using this command :
sudo -u www-data php occ files_external:create Blabla ‘smb’ password::password -c host=X.X.X.X -c share=/X/ -c root=/X/ -c domain=workgroup -c user=X -c password=X

Replace : X with Yours :wink:

Have a nice day :slight_smile:

8

Hello , perfect - that’s how it works for me too. I had to start a few attempts with the syntax - but then the external storages can be created, deleted etc
Thanks again for the support and the good advice

9

Hi, I tried your solution but it didn’t work for me.
I used these 2 command lines:

sudo -u http-web php occ files_external:create “Music” local /Multimedia3Tb -c authentication_backend=null::null

sudo -u http-web php occ files_external:create “Music” local /Multimedia3Tb -c authentication_backend=local

but in both cases I get the following error:

Authentication backend with identifier “/Multimedia3Tb” not found (see occ files_external:backends for possible values)

checking the command that gives me that error gives me the following (I clarify that more configurations appear but I summarize it to what refers to local storage):

  • storage:
  • local:
  • name: Local
  • identifier: local
  • configuration:
  • datadir: text
  • storage_class: \OC\Files\Storage\Local
  • supported_authentication_backends:
  • null::null
  • authentication_configuration:
  • null::null:

Does anyone have any idea, or would it be better to reinstall nextcloud from scratch? The strangest thing is that I just installed it from scratch, I appreciate any help to add my external drives.

10

Hi Norman

the syntax which works on my system is a little bit different - could you please try

sudo -u www-data php /PATH_TO_OCC//occ files_external:create Music ‘local’ null::null -c datadir=“/FULL_PATH_TO/Multimedia3Tb”

11

Thank you very much, I work perfectly

12

I guess it’s the same for me. Same version. Also using OpenLDAP as provider and log in works fine.

Weird bug.

13

Same issues, any actions with external storage via WebGUI with prompt for password does not work (“wrong password”) for admin and for users.

sudo -u www-data php8.3 occ files_external:create MyFiles 'local' null::null -c datadir="/nextcloud_external_disk/myfiles_to_mount_dir"

does work but:

  • local external storage appear in administration settings section as active for all users
  • is show as active with sudo -u www-data php8.3 occ files_external:list for all users and shareable
  • Does not appear in file view nor in external storage in user space ssection (admin or any other users) - worked with forced users: sudo -u www-data php8.3 occ files_external:config <mount_id> users user1,user2
14

So this is a confirmed bug? I’ve had nextcloud installed here since v12, I’m not about to reinstall everything

15

sudo -u www-data php occ files_external:create Photos local null::null -c datadir= --user=
Storage created with id 5

I get a success and an ID, but nothing shows in UI or files_external:list, any ideas?

16

maybe datadir path was wrong?

17

Nextcloud Server version : 30.0.5
Operating system and version: Debian 12.9 + all system update to 20 jan 25
PHP version: PHP 8.3.16 (built: Jan 19 2025 13:29:20) (NTS)

Good morning, I have the same problem and i hope someone can give me some suggestions or find a bug fixed in a future version. I use ldap for authentication and then users configure the external SMB/CIFS storage by specifying the option "log-in credentials, save in session). I did several tests but i had to restore the VM to a version 30.0.0.14 and PHP 8.3.16 and all system updates to 20-01-2025. As soon as i update nextcloud to a higher version (for example the latest 30.0.5) the mounting functionality for new SMB/CIFS for existing userver or new mount for new users stops to work with the message “action needs authentication failed - wrong password”. All the old ones continue to work without problems.

18

Same issue here.

  • Nextcloud Hub 9 (30.0.4) with AiO on Ubuntu server
  • LDAP Backend

Existing external storages work fine but I cannot create new ones or add global credentials

cheers
Michael

19

Hi,
I am trying to use the occ command workaround to create one external share for one user.

I used the “occ files_external:export” to get a working config from user A and now I want to import only one of the shares to user B but the “occ files_external:import” command doesn’t seem to have a “user” parameter?

How can I import a config only for one individual user? :thinking:

cheers
Michael