# Can't read from repository

**URL:** <https://kopia.discourse.group/t/cant-read-from-repository/9050>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [November 3, 2026, 9:59pm UTC](https://kopia.discourse.group/t/cant-read-from-repository/9050 "2026-11-03T21:59:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![itsnotbroken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@itsnotbroken](https://kopia.discourse.group/u/itsnotbroken)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 9:59pm UTC](https://kopia.discourse.group/t/cant-read-from-repository/9050/1 "2026-11-03T21:59:34Z")

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I’m using the linux GUI version.

Using existing NAS / NFS share as a repository (6TB Drive)

The NAS is running OMV 8/Debian 13. Working for all other machines on the network, including mobile devises, windows devices. This is NOT a share issue. All shares have been working fine for over a year or so.

Local machine is auto mounting the shares at boot via NFS. Can read/write to the (6TB) share from my local machine (Debian 13) with a normal (non root) user

The NAS is already running Kopia and using the repository successfully to back up the data stored on it to the separate internal 6TB drive.

When I try to use the repository from the local machine, I select the 6TB drive, enter the encryption password & click “connect”. It hangs on “Initializing Repository” forever. If I click “Show log”, the messages say “permission denied when ReadDir: (name of share)”

This machine & user has full read/write privileges of the repository (6TB drive)

Where do I start troubleshooting?

Thanks

mark V

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![itsnotbroken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@itsnotbroken](https://kopia.discourse.group/u/itsnotbroken)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://kopia.discourse.group/t/cant-read-from-repository/9050/2 "2026-11-04T19:32:42Z")

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Here are a few updates if the original post was unclear.

I am testing from only 2 machines before I go live.

NAS - OMV8 (Debian 13). This holds a 2TB snapraid array shared as /data via SMB to the home network. The /kopia/repository is a separate 6TB backup drive.

Desktop - Debian 13. Both the /data and the /repository mount at boot in the /mnt folder using entries in the fstab. I can read/write to both shares.

I believe the issue is that Kopia will only write to a repository that is OWNED by the logged in user. The second machine will not connect.

I have tested this in SMB by adding the user ID’s in etc/fstab (and in the case of NFS also the exports file on the server side). If I match all the user names & ID numbers, the repository works.

As long as the owner of the repository is the LOGGED IN USER, I can get the first repository and snapshot to work with the repository being owned by that user. I have tested this locally, and to a NAS share. The first machine will always work. It makes no difference if I change the user name in the repository setup.

The second snapshot (from a different machine) will not work. I am getting errors in the details about permissions when trying to write the “blob”. I am using the same user name (and even the same user number)

I have tried this both ways. Local backup of the NAS /data to /kopia\_repository works fine. But the second machine cannot write to the repository. Or, If I start from the Desktop & connect to the /kopia \_repository over the network it will work. But then the NAS cannot connect to the repository on a hard drive within it’s own case.

What am I missing?

- Mark V