Chapter 2. How to Install and Test SAMBA

If you have already installed samba, or if your operating system - was pre-installed with samba, then you may not need to bother with this - chapter. On the other hand, you may want to read this chapter anyhow - for information about updating samba.

Configuring samba (smb.conf)

- Samba's configuration is stored in the smb.conf file, - that usually resides in /etc/samba/smb.conf - or /usr/local/samba/lib/smb.conf. You can either - edit this file yourself or do it using one of the many graphical - tools that are available, such as the web-based interface swat, that - is included with samba. -

Example Configuration

- There are sample configuration files in the examples subdirectory in the - distribution. I suggest you read them carefully so you can see how the options - go together in practice. See the man page for all the options. -

- The simplest useful configuration file would be something like this: -

Example 2.1. Simplest possible smb.conf file

[global]

workgroup = MIDEARTH

[homes]

guest ok = no

read only = no

- This will allow connections by anyone with an account on the server, using either - their login name or homes" as the service name. - (Note that the workgroup that Samba must also be set.) -

- Make sure you put the smb.conf file in the correct place - (usually in /etc/samba). -

- For more information about security settings for the - [homes] share please refer to - "Securing Samba". -

Test your config file with testparm

- It's important that you test the validity of your smb.conf - file using the testparm program. If testparm runs OK - then it will list the loaded services. If not it will give an error message. -

- Make sure it runs OK and that the services look reasonable before proceeding. -

- Always run testparm again when you change smb.conf! -

SWAT

- SWAT is a web-based interface that helps you configure samba. - SWAT might not be available in the samba package on your platform, - but in a separate package. Please read the swat manpage - on compiling, installing and configuring swat from source. -

- To launch SWAT just run your favorite web browser and - point it at http://localhost:901/. Replace - localhost - with the name of the computer you are running samba on if you - are running samba on a different computer than your browser. -

- Note that you can attach to SWAT from any IP connected - machine but connecting from a remote machine leaves your - connection open to password sniffing as passwords will be sent - in the clear over the wire. -

Try listing the shares available on your - server

-$ smbclient -L yourhostname
-

You should get back a list of shares available on - your server. If you don't then something is incorrectly setup. - Note that this method can also be used to see what shares - are available on other LanManager clients (such as WfWg).

If you choose user level security then you may find - that Samba requests a password before it will list the shares. - See the smbclient man page for details. (you - can force it to list the shares without a password by - adding the option -U% to the command line. This will not work - with non-Samba servers)

Try connecting with the unix client

-$ smbclient  //yourhostname/aservice
-

Typically the yourhostname - would be the name of the host where you installed smbd. - The aservice is - any service you have defined in the smb.conf - file. Try your user name if you just have a [homes] - section - in smb.conf.

For example if your unix host is bambi - and your login name is fred you would type:

-$ smbclient //bambi/fred
-

Try connecting from another SMB client

Try mounting disks. from a DOS, Windows or OS/2 client, eg:

-C:\> net use d: \\servername\service
-

Try printing. eg:

-C:\> net use lpt1:	\\servername\spoolservice
-

C:\> print filename
-

What If Things Don't Work?

Then you might read the file chapter diagnosis - and the FAQ. If you are still stuck then refer to "Analysing and solving problems". - Samba has been successfully installed at thousands of sites worldwide, - so maybe someone else has hit your problem and has overcome it.

Common Errors

-The following questions and issues get raised on the samba mailing list over and over again. -

Large number of smbd processes

-Samba consists on three core programs: -nmbd, smbd, winbindd. nmbd is the name server message daemon, -smbd is the server message daemon, winbindd is the daemon that -handles communication with Domain Controllers. -

-If your system is NOT running as a WINS server, then there will be one (1) single instance of - nmbd running on your system. If it is running as a WINS server then there will be -two (2) instances - one to handle the WINS requests. -

-smbd handles ALL connection requests and then spawns a new process for each client -connection made. That is why you are seeing so many of them, one (1) per client connection. -

-winbindd will run as one or two daemons, depending on whether or not it is being -run in "split mode" (in which case there will be two instances). -

"open_oplock_ipc: Failed to get local UDP socket for address 100007f. Error was Cannot assign requested"

Your loopback device isn't working correctly. Make sure it's configured properly. The loopback device is an internal (virtual) network device with - the ip address 127.0.0.1. Read your OS documentation for details - on how to configure the loopback on your system.

"The network name cannot be found"

- This error can be caused by one of these misconfigurations: -

You specified an nonexisting path for the share in smb.conf
The user you are trying to access the share with does not - have sufficient permissions to access the path for the share. Both read (r) and access (x) should be possible.
The share you are trying to access does not exist.

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