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diff --git a/docs/textdocs/BROWSING.txt b/docs/textdocs/BROWSING.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..8a09d2274f --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/textdocs/BROWSING.txt @@ -0,0 +1,145 @@ +BROWSING +======== + +Samba now fully supports browsing. The browsing is supported by nmbd +and is also controlled by options in the smb.conf file (see +smb.conf(5)). + +Samba can act as a browse master for a workgroup, but currently cannot +act as a domain controller. The ability to be a domain controller will +be added in a later version. + +To get browsing to work you need to run nmbd as usual, but will need +to use the "workgroup" option in smb.conf to control what workgroup +Samba becomes a part of. + +The -G option is most useful for simple setups where Samba is browsable +in only one workgroup. In more complex cases the lmhosts file is +better. + +Be very careful setting up your lmhosts file. An incorrectly setup +lmhosts file can have disasterous results for your net! + +A simple lmhosts file might be: + +# This is a simple lmhosts file +# +# This is a host alias. Anyone querying this name +# will get the specified IP +192.0.2.17 SMBDATA +# +# first put ourselves in workgroup MYGROUP using +# our own net address +0.0.0.0 MYGROUP G + +Note in the above that I overrode what workgroup Samba is in using the +G flag. Also note that the 0.0.0.0 address is used, which will be +automatically replaced with the broadcast address for groups, and with +the local IP address for other entries. + +Samba also has a useful option for a Samba server to offer itself for +browsing on another subnet. + +This works by the lmhosts file specifying a broadcast address on the +other network to use to find a browse master for the workgroup. + +For example if you wanted yourself to appear in the workgroup STAFF on +the network which has a broadcast of 192.0.3.255 then this entry would +do the trick: + +# put ourselves in the STAFF workgroup on the other subnet +192.0.3.255 STAFF G + +Notice the G at the end! It is very important you include this as this +entry without the G could cause a broadcast storm! + +If something doesn't work then hopefully the log.nmb file will +help you track down the problem. Try a debug level of 2 or 3 for +finding problems. + +Note that if it doesn't work for you, then you should still be able to +type the server name as \\SERVER in filemanager then hit enter and +filemanager should display the list of available shares. + +Some people find browsing fails because they don't have the global +"guest account" set to a valid account. Remember that the IPC$ +connection that lists the shares is done as guest, and thus you must +have a valid guest account. + +Also, a lot of people are getting bitten by the problem of too many +parameters on the command line of nmbd in inetd.conf. This trick is to +not use spaces between the option and the parameter (eg: -d2 instead +of -d 2), and to not use the -B and -N options. New versions of nmbd +are now far more likely to correctly find your broadcast and network +addess, so in most cases these aren't needed. + +The other big problem people have is that their broadcast address, +netmask or IP address is wrong (specified with the -B, -N and -I +options to nmbd). + +FORCING SAMBA TO BE THE MASTER +============================== + +Who becomes the "master browser" is determined by an election process +using broadcasts. Each election packet contains a number of parameters +which determine what precedence (bias) a host should have in the +election. By default Samba uses a very low precedence and thus loses +elections to just about anyone else. + +If you want Samba to win elections then just set the "os level" global +option in smb.conf to a higher number. It defaults to 0. Using 33 +would make it win all elections over every other system (except other +samba systems!) + +A "os level" of 2 would make it beat WfWg and Win95, but not NTAS. A +NTAS domain controller uses level 32. + +The maximum os level is 255 + +MAKING SAMBA THE DOMAIN MASTER +============================== + +The domain master is responsible for collating the browse lists of +multiple subnets so that browsing can occur between subnets. You can +make samba act as the domain master by setting "domain master = yes" +in smb.conf. By default it will not be a domain master. + +When samba is the domain master and the master browser it will listen +for master announcements from other subnets and then contact them to +synchronise browse lists. + +If you want samba to be the domain master then I suggest you also set +the "os level" high enough to make sure it wins elections. + +NOTIFYING THE DOMAIN CONTROLLER +=============================== + +If you have a domain controller for the domain which Samba is a part +of then you should add the line "domain controller = address" to +smb.conf. "address" can either be a name available via DNS or a IP +address or a broadcast address. If it is a broadcast address then +Samba will look for a domain controller on that network. + +When Samba is the master browser it will regularly contact the domain +controller to synchronise browse lists. + + +NOTE ABOUT BROADCAST ADDRESSES +============================== + +If your network uses a "0" based broadcast address (for example if it +ends in a 0) then you will strike problems. Windows for Workgroups +does not seem to support a 0's broadcast and you will probably find +that browsing and name lookups won't work. + +You have a few options: + +1) change to a 1's broadcast on your unix server. These often end in +.255 (check with your local network guru for details) + +2) set the nmbd broadcast to a 1's based address on the command line using +the -B option. This only works if your network setup listens on both +0s and 1s based broadcasts. The -B option can only control what +address it sends to, not what it listens on. + + |