Table of Contents

Allowing simple access from MS windows computers

We have user 'kolo' on linux machine 'someserver' and we want access it's home directory contents from windows machines.

Installation

poldek:/all-avail> install samba-3.5.1-2.i686

Access configuration

Edit '/etc/samba/smb.conf' Set workgroup: 

   workgroup = SOMEWORKGROUP

Set descriptive workgroup: 

# server string is the equivalent of the NT Description field                                                                                                                                                                               
   server string = Someserver Samba Server

Set which IP# can connect (localhost and 192.168.1.0/24 in example): 

hosts allow = 192.168.1.  127.

Set security mode to 'user' 

# Security mode. Most people will want user level security. See                                                                                                                                                                             
# /usr/share/doc/samba-doc-html-*/Samba3-HOWTO/ServerType.html for details.                                                                                                                                                                 
   security = user

Select on which interfaces samba will listen: 

interfaces = 192.168.1.1/24 127.0.0.1/8

Add share definiotions for home directories: 

[homes]
   comment = Home Directories
   browseable = no
   writable = yes

Start smb and verify if it runs

[matkor@someserver ~]$ smbclient -L localhost -U%
Domain=[SOMEWORKGROUP] OS=[Unix] Server=[Samba 3.5.1]

        Sharename       Type      Comment
        ---------       ----      -------
        IPC$            IPC       IPC Service (Someserver Samba Server)
Domain=[DOMAIN] OS=[Unix] Server=[Samba 3.5.1]

        Server               Comment
        ---------            -------
        SOMESERVER           Someserver Samba Server

        Workgroup            Master
        ---------            -------
        SOMEWORKGROUP

Add samba user (used to microsoft network logins)

sudo smbpasswd -a kolo
New SMB password:                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Retype new SMB password:

You should now see server in network neighbourhood and be able to login to it or map drives on its shares.

In global section one need to disable linux client extensions (allowing to create symlinks) 

# Turns off possiblity to clients to craete symlinks                                                                                                                                                                                        
unix extensions=no

And per share add: 

   follow symlinks = yes
   wide links = yes