From d069dacb6e17866dd5d3862e1837a9cae008644f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jelmer Vernooij Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 18:26:34 +0000 Subject: Regenerate docs (This used to be commit dc33e94161e4fc1ca6bf66a321c708c89bb276e3) --- docs/htmldocs/msdfs.html | 51 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 51 insertions(+) create mode 100644 docs/htmldocs/msdfs.html (limited to 'docs/htmldocs/msdfs.html') diff --git a/docs/htmldocs/msdfs.html b/docs/htmldocs/msdfs.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..9fdf906ed0 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/htmldocs/msdfs.html @@ -0,0 +1,51 @@ +Chapter 17. Hosting a Microsoft Distributed File System tree on Samba
Chapter 17. Hosting a Microsoft Distributed File System tree on Samba
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Chapter 17. Hosting a Microsoft Distributed File System tree on Samba

Shirish Kalele

Samba Team & Veritas Software


+
+

12 Jul 2000

Table of Contents

Features and Benefits
Common Errors

Features and Benefits

+ The Distributed File System (or DFS) provides a means of separating the logical + view of files and directories that users see from the actual physical locations + of these resources on the network. It allows for higher availability, smoother + storage expansion, load balancing etc. +

+ For information about DFS, refer to the +Microsoft documentation. +

+ This document explains how to host a DFS tree on a UNIX machine (for DFS-aware + clients to browse) using Samba. +

+ To enable SMB-based DFS for Samba, configure it with the --with-msdfs + option. Once built, a Samba server can be made a DFS server by setting the global + boolean host msdfs + parameter in the smb.conf file. You designate a share as a DFS + root using the share level boolean msdfs root parameter. A DFS root directory on Samba hosts DFS + links in the form of symbolic links that point to other servers. For example, a symbolic link + junction->msdfs:storage1\share1 in the share directory acts + as the DFS junction. When DFS-aware clients attempt to access the junction link, + they are redirected to the storage location (in this case, \\storage1\share1). +

+ DFS trees on Samba work with all DFS-aware clients ranging from Windows 95 to 200x. +

+ Here's an example of setting up a DFS tree on a Samba server. +

Example 17.1. smb.conf with DFS configured

[global]
netbios name = GANDALF
host msdfs = yes
[dfs]
path = /export/dfsroot
msdfs root = yes

In the /export/dfsroot directory we set up our DFS links to + other servers on the network.

+root# cd /export/dfsroot
+root# chown root /export/dfsroot
+root# chmod 755 /export/dfsroot
+root# ln -s msdfs:storageA\\shareA linka
+root# ln -s msdfs:serverB\\share,serverC\\share linkb
+

You should set up the permissions and ownership of + the directory acting as the DFS root such that only designated + users can create, delete or modify the msdfs links. Also note + that symlink names should be all lowercase. This limitation exists + to have Samba avoid trying all the case combinations to get at + the link name. Finally set up the symbolic links to point to the + network shares you want, and start Samba.

Users on DFS-aware clients can now browse the DFS tree + on the Samba server at \\samba\dfs. Accessing + links linka or linkb (which appear as directories to the client) + takes users directly to the appropriate shares on the network.

Common Errors

  • Windows clients need to be rebooted + if a previously mounted non-dfs share is made a DFS + root or vice versa. A better way is to introduce a + new share and make it the DFS root.

  • Currently there's a restriction that msdfs + symlink names should all be lowercase.

  • For security purposes, the directory + acting as the root of the DFS tree should have ownership + and permissions set so that only designated users can + modify the symbolic links in the directory.

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