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How can I preserve file modification times when copying to a NAS?

rated 0 times [ 5] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 18249 / 2 Years ago, sun, march 6, 2022, 7:21:37

I recently installed a Synology DiskStation on my network. I mounted it from an Ubuntu 12.04.1 computer with the Browse Network button in Nautilus 3.4.2. It shows up as afp://[email protected]/photo/ in Nautilus.

So far, so good. I then uploaded a lot of photos to it, all with modifications times covering several months. When I looked at the directory of photos on the DiskStation, they all had modification times for the moment they were copied, not the modification times on the source computer. So much for sorting them by date on the DiskStation.

Is there a way to re-copy the files but have their modification date be preserved? Perhaps I mounted the DiskStation the wrong way. Perhaps Nautilus was the wrong tool to use. Any suggestions?

BTW, I have moved gigabytes of photos to a different NAS (Plextor PX-EH) over SMB/CIFS from Ubuntu 10.04, 10.10, 11.04, and 11.10 with modification times fully preserved. The problem must be with the Synology or some Ubuntu 12.04 software.

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raacket

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1 Year ago

answered 2 Years ago istmasted · Accepted Answer

I believe I have solved the problem. In Ubuntu 12.04, in Nautilus there are two ways to connect to the remote DiskStation NAS. One preserves modification times, one does not.

In the menu on the left-hand side of a Nautilus window, the Browse Network... button eventually leads to an AFP (Apple Filing Protocol) connection to the DiskStation, through which neither Nautilus nor cp -p copies preserve modification time. I tried disabling Apple support in the DiskStation, but in that mode the DiskStation wasn't even visible in Browse Network.

In Nautilus's File menu there is a Connect to Server... option that offers a host of protocols. I chose Windows, entered my credentials, and connected without trouble. In this mode, modification times are preserved, so I was able to re-copy my photos and have their dates preserved.

Thank you Sergey and david6 for your suggestions. Hopefully people will find this information valuable.