Disclaimer: yes I have searched this, no I haven't found anything that could fix it, with that out of the way, could be please move on.
The Samba Server: Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS, running latest version of Samba from the default repository. Everything setup using webmin
The Upside: my Windows is connecting just fine. I change the password and the Windows 10 will ask me for the new one. I change the user, I will use another user. I am using guest, I will be the guest. I do not have to manually add Samba 1.0 support to my windows for it to work, it just does and I can use it verifying that the changes I make actually work.
The Error:
VLC 3.2.7 behavior: it is running on an Nvidia Shield Pro, latest model. I select Network, I select my server name, it asks for my credentials, it type them in, it will ask me for my credentials again. No format I throw at it will work
DOMAIN;user (does not work)
user (does not work)
IP;used (does not work)
various combinations of forward / and backward \ slashes for sheer trial and error (does not work)
PASSWORDLESS GUEST MODE !!! (does not work)
Attempts at solving this from the Samba side:
min protocol = SMB1 (outdated idea, will only prevent your current version of Samba from starting)
ntlm auth = ntlmv1-permitted (technically works, technically enables Samba 1, still makes no difference for VLC)
Why do I think it is this version?
(1) Before I used the older version of the shield, running an older version of VLC. It worked perfectly. The only thing that has changed is the new Shield with the new VLC and I am guessing it is not the Shield.
(2) File Commander works just fine on the Shield, doing smb like nobody's business. Shockingly has a "guest" login checkbox.
(3) Windows Version of VLC. I click on mDNS, I click on my server, it just works.
This is about as much fun as I want to have this afternoon. Any other suggestions?