This is likely a Linux question, I just am wondering why I can’t unplug an external, plug it into a new jellyfin setup (different machine), run chmod 777 for a local network and have it work.
It won’t add any of the drives/folders. Seems like an easy task, Windows or Mac OS could do it without thought, it’s a drive, with permissions. Why am I fighting it?
You still didn’t really answer how you are running chmod and there’s two users here already telling you it could solve the issue that you need to run it recursively.
From your answer I can assume you are not doing that and it is easy to just test it, so why don’t you give it a try and if it doesn’t work then there is a whole different issue than setting permissions.