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diff --git a/docs/faq/Samba-meta-FAQ-2.html b/docs/faq/Samba-meta-FAQ-2.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..c5ebab7e7e --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/faq/Samba-meta-FAQ-2.html @@ -0,0 +1,384 @@ +<HTML> +<HEAD> +<TITLE> Samba meta FAQ: General Information</TITLE> +</HEAD> +<BODY> +<A HREF="Samba-meta-FAQ-1.html">Previous</A> +<A HREF="Samba-meta-FAQ-3.html">Next</A> +<A HREF="Samba-meta-FAQ.html#toc2">Table of Contents</A> +<HR> +<H2><A NAME="s2">2. General Information</A></H2> + +<P> +<A NAME="general_info"></A> +</P> +<P>All about Samba - what it is, how to get it, related sources of +information, how to understand the numbering scheme, pizza +details.</P> + +<H2><A NAME="ss2.1">2.1 What is Samba?</A></H2> + +<P> +<A NAME="introduction"></A> +</P> +<P>Samba is a suite of programs which work together to allow clients to +access to a server's filespace and printers via the SMB (Server Message +Block) and CIFS (Common Internet Filesystem) protocols. Initially +written for Unix, Samba now also runs on Netware, OS/2, VMS, StratOS and +Amigas. Ports to BeOS and other operating systems are underway. Samba +gives the capability for these operating systems to behave much like a +LAN Server, Windows NT Server or Pathworks machine, only with added +functionality and flexibility designed to make life easier for +administrators. </P> +<P>This means that using Samba you can share a server's disks and printers +to many sorts of network clients, including Lan Manager, Windows for +Workgroups, Windows NT, Linux, OS/2, and AIX. There is also a generic +client program supplied as part of the Samba suite which gives a user on +the server an ftp-like interface to access filespace and printers on any +other SMB/CIFS servers.</P> +<P>SMB has been implemented over many protocols, including XNS, NBT, IPX, +NetBEUI and TCP/IP. Samba only uses TCP/IP. This is not likely to change +although there have been some requests for NetBEUI support.</P> +<P>Many users report that compared to other SMB implementations Samba is +more stable, faster, and compatible with more clients. Administrators of +some large installations say that Samba is the only SMB server available +which will scale to many tens of thousands of users without crashing. +The easy way to test these claims is to download it and try it for +yourself!</P> +<P>The suite is supplied with full source code under the +<A HREF="../COPYING">GNU Public License</A>. The GPL means that you can +use Samba for whatever purpose you wish (including changing the source +or selling it for money) but under all circumstances the source code +must be made freely available. A copy of the GPL must always be included +in any copy of the package.</P> +<P>The primary creator of the Samba suite is Andrew Tridgell. Later +versions incorporate much effort by many net.helpers. The man pages +and this FAQ were originally written by Karl Auer.</P> + + +<H2><A NAME="ss2.2">2.2 What is the current version of Samba?</A></H2> + +<P> +<A NAME="current_version"></A> +</P> +<P>At time of writing, the current version was 1.9.17. If you want to be +sure check the bottom of the change-log file. +<A HREF="ftp://samba.anu.edu.au/pub/samba/alpha/change-log">ftp://samba.anu.edu.au/pub/samba/alpha/change-log</A></P> +<P>For more information see +<A HREF="#version_nums">What do the version numbers mean?</A></P> + + +<H2><A NAME="ss2.3">2.3 Where can I get it? </A></H2> + +<P> +<A NAME="WhereFrom"></A> +</P> +<P>The Samba suite is available via anonymous ftp from samba.anu.edu.au and +many +<A HREF="../MIRRORS">mirror</A> sites. You will get much +faster performance if you use a mirror site. The latest and greatest +versions of the suite are in the directory:</P> +<P>/pub/samba/</P> +<P>Development (read "alpha") versions, which are NOT necessarily stable +and which do NOT necessarily have accurate documentation, are available +in the directory:</P> +<P>/pub/samba/alpha</P> +<P>Note that binaries are NOT included in any of the above. Samba is +distributed ONLY in source form, though binaries may be available from +other sites. Most Linux distributions, for example, do contain Samba +binaries for that platform. The VMS, OS/2, Netware and Amiga and other +ports typically have binaries made available.</P> +<P>A special case is vendor-provided binary packages. Samba binaries and +default configuration files are put into packages for a specific +operating system. RedHat Linux and Sun Solaris (Sparc and x86) is +already included, and others such as OS/2 may follow. All packages are +in the directory:</P> +<P>/pub/samba/Binary_Packages/"OS_Vendor"</P> + + +<H2><A NAME="ss2.4">2.4 What do the version numbers mean?</A></H2> + +<P> +<A NAME="version_nums"></A> +</P> +<P>It is not recommended that you run a version of Samba with the word +"alpha" in its name unless you know what you are doing and are willing +to do some debugging. Many, many people just get the latest +recommended stable release version and are happy. If you are brave, by +all means take the plunge and help with the testing and development - +but don't install it on your departmental server. Samba is typically +very stable and safe, and this is mostly due to the policy of many +public releases.</P> +<P>How the scheme works:</P> +<P> +<OL> +<LI>When major changes are made the version number is increased. For +example, the transition from 1.9.16 to 1.9.17. However, this version +number will not appear immediately and people should continue to use +1.9.15 for production systems (see next point.) +</LI> +<LI>Just after major changes are made the software is considered +unstable, and a series of alpha releases are distributed, for example +1.9.16alpha1. These are for testing by those who know what they are +doing. The "alpha" in the filename will hopefully scare off those who +are just looking for the latest version to install. +</LI> +<LI>When Andrew thinks that the alphas have stabilised to the point +where he would recommend new users install it, he renames it to the +same version number without the alpha, for example 1.9.17. +</LI> +<LI>Inevitably bugs are found in the "stable" releases and minor patch +levels are released which give us the pXX series, for example 1.9.17p2. +</LI> +</OL> +</P> +<P>So the progression goes:</P> +<P> +<PRE> + 1.9.16p10 (production) + 1.9.16p11 (production) + 1.9.17alpha1 (test sites only) + : + 1.9.17alpha20 (test sites only) + 1.9.17 (production) + 1.9.17p1 (production) +</PRE> +</P> +<P>The above system means that whenever someone looks at the samba ftp +site they will be able to grab the highest numbered release without an +alpha in the name and be sure of getting the current recommended +version.</P> + + +<H2><A NAME="ss2.5">2.5 Where can I go for further information?</A></H2> + +<P> +<A NAME="more"></A> +</P> +<P>There are a number of places to look for more information on Samba, +including:</P> +<P> +<UL> +<LI>Two mailing lists devoted to discussion of Samba-related matters. +See below for subscription information. +</LI> +<LI>The newsgroup comp.protocols.smb, which has a great deal of +discussion about Samba. +</LI> +<LI>The WWW site 'SAMBA Web Pages' at +<A HREF="http://samba.canberra.edu.au/pub/samba/samba.html">http://samba.canberra.edu.au/pub/samba/samba.html</A> includes: + +<UL> +<LI>Links to man pages and documentation, including this FAQ</LI> +<LI>A comprehensive survey of Samba users</LI> +<LI>A searchable hypertext archive of the Samba mailing list</LI> +<LI>Links to Samba source code, binaries, and mirrors of both</LI> +<LI>This FAQ and the rest in its family</LI> +</UL> + +</LI> +</UL> +</P> + + +<H2><A NAME="ss2.6">2.6 How do I subscribe to the Samba Mailing Lists?</A></H2> + +<P> +<A NAME="mailinglist"></A> +</P> +<P>Send email to +<A HREF="mailto:listproc@samba.anu.edu.au">listproc@samba.anu.edu.au</A>. Make sure the subject line is blank, +and include the following two lines in the body of the message:</P> +<P> +<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE> +<PRE> +subscribe samba Firstname Lastname +subscribe samba-announce Firstname Lastname +</PRE> +</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE> +</P> +<P>Obviously you should substitute YOUR first name for "Firstname" and +YOUR last name for "Lastname"! Try not to send any signature, it +sometimes confuses the list processor.</P> +<P>The samba list is a digest list - every eight hours or so it sends a +single message containing all the messages that have been received by +the list since the last time and sends a copy of this message to all +subscribers. There are thousands of people on this list.</P> +<P>If you stop being interested in Samba, please send another email to +<A HREF="mailto:listproc@samba.anu.edu.au">listproc@samba.anu.edu.au</A>. Make sure the subject line is blank, and +include the following two lines in the body of the message:</P> +<P> +<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE> +<PRE> +unsubscribe samba +unsubscribe samba-announce +</PRE> +</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE> +</P> +<P>The <B>From:</B> line in your message <EM>MUST</EM> be the same +address you used when you subscribed.</P> + + +<H2><A NAME="ss2.7">2.7 Something's gone wrong - what should I do?</A></H2> + +<P> +<A NAME="wrong"></A> +</P> +<P><B><F>#</F> *** IMPORTANT! *** <F>#</F></B></P> + +<P>DO NOT post messages on mailing lists or in newsgroups until you have +carried out the first three steps given here!</P> +<P> +<OL> +<LI> See if there are any likely looking entries in this FAQ! +If you have just installed Samba, have you run through the checklist in +<A HREF="ftp://samba.anu.edu.au/pub/samba/DIAGNOSIS.txt">DIAGNOSIS.txt</A>? It can save you a lot of time and effort. +DIAGNOSIS.txt can also be found in the docs directory of the Samba +distribution. +</LI> +<LI> Read the man pages for smbd, nmbd and smb.conf, looking for +topics that relate to what you are trying to do. +</LI> +<LI> If there is no obvious solution to hand, try to get a look at +the log files for smbd and/or nmbd for the period during which you +were having problems. You may need to reconfigure the servers to +provide more extensive debugging information - usually level 2 or +level 3 provide ample debugging info. Inspect these logs closely, +looking particularly for the string "Error:". +</LI> +<LI> If you need urgent help and are willing to pay for it see +<A HREF="#PaidSupport">Paid Support</A>. +</LI> +</OL> +</P> +<P>If you still haven't got anywhere, ask the mailing list or newsgroup. In +general nobody minds answering questions provided you have followed the +preceding steps. It might be a good idea to scan the archives of the +mailing list, which are available through the Samba web site described +in the previous section. When you post be sure to include a good +description of your environment and your problem.</P> +<P>If you successfully solve a problem, please mail the FAQ maintainer a +succinct description of the symptom, the problem and the solution, so +that an explanation can be incorporated into the next version.</P> + + +<H2><A NAME="ss2.8">2.8 How do I submit patches or bug reports?</A></H2> + + +<P>If you make changes to the source code, <EM>please</EM> submit these patches +so that everyone else gets the benefit of your work. This is one of +the most important aspects to the maintainence of Samba. Send all +patches to +<A HREF="mailto:samba-bugs@samba.anu.edu.au">samba-bugs@samba.anu.edu.au</A>. Do not send patches to Andrew Tridgell or any +other individual, they may be lost if you do.</P> +<P>Patch format +------------</P> +<P>If you are sending a patch to fix a problem then please don't just use +standard diff format. As an example, samba-bugs received this patch from +someone:</P> +<P>382a +#endif +.. +381a +#if !defined(NEWS61)</P> +<P>How are we supposed to work out what this does and where it goes? These +sort of patches only work if we both have identical files in the first +place. The Samba sources are constantly changing at the hands of multiple +developers, so it doesn't work.</P> +<P>Please use either context diffs or (even better) unified diffs. You +get these using "diff -c4" or "diff -u". If you don't have a diff that +can generate these then please send manualy commented patches to I +know what is being changed and where. Most patches are applied by hand so +the info must be clear.</P> +<P>This is a basic guideline that will assist us with assessing your problem +more efficiently :</P> +<P>Machine Arch: +Machine OS: +OS Version: +Kernel:</P> +<P>Compiler: +Libc Version:</P> +<P>Samba Version:</P> +<P>Network Layout (description):</P> +<P>What else is on machine (services, etc):</P> +<P>Some extras :</P> +<P> +<UL> +<LI> what you did and what happened +</LI> +<LI> relevant parts of a debugging output file with debuglevel higher. +If you can't find the relevant parts, please ask before mailing +huge files. +</LI> +<LI> anything else you think is useful to trace down the bug +</LI> +</UL> +</P> + + +<H2><A NAME="ss2.9">2.9 What if I have an URGENT message for the developers?</A></H2> + + +<P>If you have spotted something very serious and believe that it is +important to contact the developers quickly send a message to +samba-urgent@samba.anu.edu.au. This will be processed more quickly than +mail to samba-bugs. Please think carefully before using this address. An +example of its use might be to report a security hole.</P> +<P>Examples of things <EM>not</EM> to send to samba-urgent include problems +getting Samba to work at all and bugs that cannot potentially cause damage.</P> + + +<H2><A NAME="ss2.10">2.10 What if I need paid-for support?</A></H2> + +<P> +<A NAME="PaidSupport"></A> +</P> +<P>Samba has a large network of consultants who provide Samba support on a +commercial basis. The list is included in the package in +<A HREF="../Support.txt">../Support.txt</A>, and the latest version will always be on the main +samba ftp site. Any company in the world can request that the samba team +include their details in Support.txt so we can give no guarantee of +their services.</P> + + +<H2><A NAME="ss2.11">2.11 Pizza supply details</A></H2> + +<P> +<A NAME="pizza"></A> + +Those who have registered in the Samba survey as "Pizza Factory" will +already know this, but the rest may need some help. Andrew doesn't ask +for payment, but he does appreciate it when people give him +pizza. This calls for a little organisation when the pizza donor is +twenty thousand kilometres away, but it has been done.</P> +<P> +<OL> +<LI> Ring up your local branch of an international pizza chain +and see if they honour their vouchers internationally. Pizza Hut do, +which is how the entire Canberra Linux Users Group got to eat pizza +one night, courtesy of someone in the US. +</LI> +<LI>Ring up a local pizza shop in Canberra and quote a credit +card number for a certain amount, and tell them that Andrew will be +collecting it (don't forget to tell him.) One kind soul from Germany +did this. +</LI> +<LI>Purchase a pizza voucher from your local pizza shop that has +no international affiliations and send it to Andrew. It is completely +useless but he can hang it on the wall next to the one he already has +from Germany :-) +</LI> +<LI>Air freight him a pizza with your favourite regional +flavours. It will probably get stuck in customs or torn apart by +hungry sniffer dogs but it will have been a noble gesture. +</LI> +</OL> +</P> + + +<HR> +<A HREF="Samba-meta-FAQ-1.html">Previous</A> +<A HREF="Samba-meta-FAQ-3.html">Next</A> +<A HREF="Samba-meta-FAQ.html#toc2">Table of Contents</A> +</BODY> +</HTML> |