path: root/docs/Samba-Guide/Chap01-WindowsNetworkingPrimer.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<!DOCTYPE book PUBLIC "-//Samba-Team//DTD DocBook V4.2-Based Variant V1.0//EN" "http://www.samba.org/samba/DTD/samba-doc">
<chapter id="primer">
  <title>Networking Primer</title>

<?latex \pagenumbering{arabic} ?>

	<para>
	You are about to use the equivalent of a microscope to look at the information
	that runs through the veins of a Windows network. We do more to observe the information than
	to interrogate it. When you are done with this chapter, you should have a good understanding
	of the types of information that flow over the network. Do not worry, this is not
	a biology lesson. We won't lose you in unnecessary detail. Think to yourself, <quote>This
	is easy,</quote> then tackle each exercise without fear.
	</para>

	<para>
	Samba can be configured with a minimum of complexity. Simplicity should be mastered
	before you get too deeply into complexities. Let's get moving, we have work to do.
	</para>

<sect1>
	<title>Requirements and Notes</title>
	<para>
	Successful completion of this chapter requires two Microsoft Windows 9x/Me Workstations,
	as well as two Microsoft Windows XP Professional Workstations, each equipped with an Ethernet
	card connected using a hub. Also required is one additional server (either Windows
	NT4 Server, Windows 2000 Server, or a Samba-3 on UNIX/Linux server) running a network
	sniffer and analysis application (ethereal is a good choice). All work should be undertaken
	on a quiet network where there is no other traffic. It is best to use a dedicated hub
	with only the machines under test connected at the time of the exercises.
	</para>

      <para><indexterm>
	  <primary>Ethereal</primary>
	</indexterm>
	Ethereal has become the network protocol analyzer of choice for many network administrators. 
	You may find more information regarding this tool from the 
	<ulink url="http://www.ethereal.com">Ethereal</ulink> Web site. Ethereal installation 
	files for Windows may be obtained from the Ethereal Web site. Ethereal is provided with 
	SUSE and Red Hat Linux distributions, as well as many other Linux distributions. It may 
	not be installed on your system by default. If it is not installed, you may also need 
	to install the <command>libpcap </command> software before you can install or use Ethereal. 
	Please refer to the instructions for your operating system or to the Ethereal Web site 
	for information regarding the installation and operation of Ethereal.
	</para>

	<para>
	To obtain <command>ethereal</command> for your system, please visit the Ethereal
	<ulink url="http://www.ethereal.com/download.html#binaries">download site.</ulink>
	</para>

	<note><para>
	The successful completion of this chapter requires that you capture network traffic
	using <command>ethereal</command>. It is recommended that you use a hub, not an
	etherswitch. It is necessary for the device used to act as a repeater, not as a
	filter. Ethernet switches may filter out traffic that is not directed at the machine
	that is used to monitor traffic; this would not allow you to complete the projects.
	</para></note>

	<para>
	<indexterm><primary>network</primary><secondary>captures</secondary></indexterm>
	Do not worry too much if you do not have access to all this equipment; network captures
	from the exercises are provided on the enclosed CD-ROM. This makes it possible to dive directly
	into the analytical part of the exercises if you so desire.
	</para>

      <para><indexterm>
	  <primary>network</primary>
	  <secondary>sniffer</secondary>
	</indexterm><indexterm>
	  <primary>protocol analysis</primary>
	</indexterm>
	Please do not be alarmed at the use of a high-powered analysis tool (ethereal) in this
	first chapter.  We expose you only to a minimum of detail necessary to complete 
	the exercises in this chapter. If you choose to use any other network sniffer and protocol
	analysis tool, be advised that it may not allow you to examine the contents of
	recently added security protocols used by Windows 200x/XP.
	</para>

	<para>
	You could just skim through the exercises and try to absorb the key points made. 
	The exercises provide all the information necessary to convince the die-hard network 
	engineer. You possibly do not require so much convincing and may just want to move on, 
	in which case you should at least read <link linkend="chap01conc"/>.
	</para>

	<para>
	<link linkend="chap01qa"/> also provides useful information
	that may help you to avoid significantly time-consuming networking problems.
	</para>
</sect1>

<sect1>
	<title>Introduction</title>

	<para>
	The purpose of this chapter is to create familiarity with key aspects of Microsoft Windows
	network computing. If you want a solid technical grounding, do not gloss over these exercises. 
	The points covered are recurrent issues on the Samba mailing lists. 
	</para>

      <para><indexterm>
	  <primary>network</primary>
	  <secondary>broadcast</secondary>
	</indexterm>
	You can see from these exercises that Windows networking involves quite a lot of network
	broadcast traffic. You can look into the contents of some packets, but only to see
	some particular information that the Windows client sends to a server in the course of
	establishing a network connection.
	</para>

	<para>
	To many people, browsing is everything that happens when one uses Microsoft Internet Explorer.
	It is only when you start looking at network traffic and noting the protocols
	and types of information that are used that you can begin to appreciate the complexities of
	Windows networking and, more importantly, what needs to be configured so that it can work.
	Detailed information regarding browsing is provided in the recommended
	preparatory reading.
	</para>

	<para>
	Recommended preparatory reading: <emphasis>The Official Samba-3 HOWTO and Reference Guide</emphasis> (TOSHARG) 
	Chapter 9, <quote>Network Browsing,</quote> and Chapter 3, <quote>Server Types and 
	Security Modes.</quote>
	</para>

	<sect2>
		<title>Assignment Tasks</title>

	<para><indexterm>
	    <primary>browsing</primary>
	  </indexterm>
		You are about to witness how Microsoft Windows computer networking functions. The
		exercises step through identification of how a client machine establishes a
		connection to a remote Windows server. You observe how Windows machines find
		each other (i.e., how browsing works), and how the two key types of user identification
		(share mode security and user mode security) are affected.
		</para>

	<para><indexterm>
	    <primary>network</primary>
	    <secondary>analyzer</secondary>
	  </indexterm>
		The networking protocols used by MS Windows networking when working with Samba
		use TCP/IP as the transport protocol. The protocols that are specific to Windows
		networking are encapsulated in TCP/IP. The network analyzer we use (ethereal)
		is able to show you the contents of the TCP/IP packets (or messages).
		</para>

		<procedure id="chap01tasks">
			<title>Chapter 1 &smbmdash; Tasks</title>

	  <step><para><indexterm>
		<primary>network</primary>
		<secondary>trace</secondary>
	      </indexterm><indexterm>
		<primary>host announcement</primary>
	      </indexterm><indexterm>
		<primary>name resolution</primary>
	      </indexterm>
			Examine network traces to witness SMB broadcasts, host announcements,
			and name resolution processes.
			</para></step>

			<step><para>
			Examine network traces to witness how share mode security functions.
			</para></step>

			<step><para>
			Examine network traces to witness the use of user mode security.
			</para></step>

			<step><para>
			Review traces of network logons for a Windows 9x/Me client as well as
			a Domain logon for a Windows XP Professional client.
			</para></step>
		</procedure>

	</sect2>
</sect1>

<sect1>
	<title>Exercises</title>

	<para>
	<indexterm><primary>ethereal</primary></indexterm>
	You are embarking on a course of discovery. The first part of the exercise requires
	two MS Windows 9x/Me systems. We called one machine <constant>WINEPRESSME</constant> and the
	other <constant>MILGATE98</constant>. Each needs an IP address; we used <literal>10.1.1.10</literal>
	and <literal>10.1.1.11</literal>. The test machines need to be networked via a <emphasis>hub</emphasis>. A UNIX/Linux
	machine is required to run <command>ethereal</command> to enable the network activity to be captured.
	It is important that the machine from which network activity is captured must not interfere with
	the operation of the Windows workstations. It is helpful for this machine to be passive (does not
	send broadcast information) to the network.
	</para>

	<para>
	For these exercises, our test environment consisted of a SUSE 9.2 Professional Linux Workstation running
	VMWare 4.5. The following VMWare images were prepared:
	</para>

	<itemizedlist>
		<listitem><para>Windows 98 &smbmdash; name: MILGATE98.</para></listitem>
		<listitem><para>Windows Me &smbmdash; name: WINEPRESSME.</para></listitem>
		<listitem><para>Windows XP Professional &smbmdash; name: LightrayXP.</para></listitem>
		<listitem><para>Samba-3.0.12 running on a SUSE Enterprise Linux 9.</para></listitem>
	</itemizedlist>

	<para>
	Choose a workgroup name (MIDEARTH) for each exercise.
	</para>

	<para>
	<indexterm><primary>ethereal</primary></indexterm>
	The network captures provided on the CD-ROM at the back of this book were captured using <constant>ethereal</constant>
	version <literal>0.10.6</literal>. A later version suffices without problems, but an earlier version may not
	expose all the information needed. Each capture file has been decoded and listed as a trace file. A summary of all
	packets has also been included. This makes it possible for you to do all the studying you like without the need to
	perform the time-consuming equipment configuration and test work. This is a good time to point out the value
	that can be derived from this book really does warrant your taking sufficient time to practice each exercise with
	care and attention to detail.
	</para>

	<sect2>
	<title>Single Machine Broadcast Activity</title>

	<para>
	In this section, we start a single Windows 9x/Me machine, then monitor network activity for 30 minutes.
	</para>

	<procedure>
		<step><para>
		Start the machine from which network activity will be monitored (using <command>ethereal</command>).
		Launch <command>ethereal</command>, click
			<menuchoice>
				<guimenu>Capture</guimenu>
				<guimenuitem>Start</guimenuitem>
			</menuchoice>.
		</para>

		<para>
		Click the following: 
		<orderedlist>
		<listitem>Update list of packets in real time</listitem>
		<listitem>Automatic scrolling in live capture</listitem>
		<listitem>Enable MAC name resolution </listitem>
		<listitem>Enable network name resolution </listitem>
		<listitem>Enable transport name resolution</listitem>
		</orderedlist>
		Click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		Start the Windows 9x/Me machine to be monitored. Let it run for a full 30 minutes. While monitoring,
		do not press any keyboard keys, do not click any on-screen icons or menus; and do not answer any dialog boxes.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		At the conclusion of 30 minutes, stop the capture. Save the capture to a file so you can go back to it later.
		Leave this machine running in preparation for the task in <link linkend="secondmachine"/>.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		Analyze the capture. Identify each discrete message type that was captured. Note what transport protocol
		was used. Identify the timing between messages of identical types.
		</para></step>

	</procedure>

		<sect3>
		<title>Findings</title>

		<para>
		The summary of the first 10 minutes of the packet capture should look like <link linkend="pktcap01"/>.
		A screenshot of a later stage of the same capture is shown in <link linkend="pktcap02"/>.
		</para>

		<image id="pktcap01">
			<imagefile scale="40">WINREPRESSME-Capture</imagefile>
			<imagedescription>Windows Me &smbmdash; Broadcasts &smbmdash; The First 10 Minutes</imagedescription>
		</image>

		<image id="pktcap02">
			<imagedescription>Windows Me &smbmdash; Later Broadcast Sample</imagedescription>
			<imagefile scale="42">WINREPRESSME-Capture2</imagefile>
		</image>

	  <para><indexterm>
	      <primary>Local Master Browser</primary>
	      <see>LMB</see>
	    </indexterm><indexterm>
	      <primary>LMB</primary>
	    </indexterm>
		Broadcast messages observed are shown in <link linkend="capsstats01"/>.
		Actual observations vary a little, but not by much.
		Early in the startup process, the Windows Me machine broadcasts its name for two reasons;
		first to ensure that its name would not result in a name clash, and second to establish its
		presence with the Local Master Browser (LMB).
		</para>

		<table id="capsstats01">
			<title>Windows Me &smbmdash; Startup Broadcast Capture Statistics</title>
			<tgroup cols="4">
				<colspec align="left" colwidth="3*"/>
				<colspec align="center"/>
				<colspec align="center"/>
				<colspec align="left" colwidth="3*"/>
				<thead>
					<row>
						<entry>Message</entry>
						<entry>Type</entry>
						<entry>Num</entry>
						<entry>Notes</entry>
					</row>
				</thead>
				<tbody>
					<row>
						<entry>WINEPRESSME&lt;00&gt;</entry>
						<entry>Reg</entry>
						<entry>8</entry>
						<entry>4 lots of 2, 0.6 sec apart.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>WINEPRESSME&lt;03&gt;</entry>
						<entry>Reg</entry>
						<entry>8</entry>
						<entry>4 lots of 2, 0.6 sec apart.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>WINEPRESSME&lt;20&gt;</entry>
						<entry>Reg</entry>
						<entry>8</entry>
						<entry>4 lots of 2, 0.75 sec apart.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>MIDEARTH&lt;00&gt;</entry>
						<entry>Reg</entry>
						<entry>8</entry>
						<entry>4 lots of 2, 0.75 sec apart.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>MIDEARTH&lt;1d&gt;</entry>
						<entry>Reg</entry>
						<entry>8</entry>
						<entry>4 lots of 2, 0.75 sec apart.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>MIDEARTH&lt;1e&gt;</entry>
						<entry>Reg</entry>
						<entry>8</entry>
						<entry>4 lots of 2, 0.75 sec apart.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>MIDEARTH&lt;1b&gt;</entry>
						<entry>Qry</entry>
						<entry>84</entry>
						<entry>300 sec apart at stable operation.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>__MSBROWSE__</entry>
						<entry>Reg</entry>
						<entry>8</entry>
						<entry>Registered after winning election to Browse Master.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>JHT&lt;03&gt;</entry>
						<entry>Reg</entry>
						<entry>8</entry>
						<entry>4 x 2. This is the name of the user that logged onto Windows.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>Host Announcement WINEPRESSME</entry>
						<entry>Ann</entry>
						<entry>2</entry>
						<entry>Observed at 10 sec.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>Domain/Workgroup Announcement MIDEARTH</entry>
						<entry>Ann</entry>
						<entry>18</entry>
						<entry>300 sec apart at stable operation.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>Local Master Announcement WINEPRESSME</entry>
						<entry>Ann</entry>
						<entry>18</entry>
						<entry>300 sec apart at stable operation.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>Get Backup List Request</entry>
						<entry>Qry</entry>
						<entry>12</entry>
						<entry>6 x 2 early in startup, 0.5 sec apart.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>Browser Election Request</entry>
						<entry>Ann</entry>
						<entry>10</entry>
						<entry>5 x 2 early in startup.</entry>
					</row>
					<row>
						<entry>Request Announcement WINEPRESSME</entry>
						<entry>Ann</entry>
						<entry>4</entry>
						<entry>Early in startup.</entry>
					</row>
				</tbody>
			</tgroup>
		</table>

	  <para><indexterm>
	      <primary>election</primary>
	    </indexterm><indexterm>
	      <primary>browse master</primary>
	    </indexterm>
		From the packet trace, it should be noted that no messages were propagated over TCP/IP;
		all employed UDP/IP.  When steady state operation has been achieved, there is a cycle
		of various announcements, re-election of a browse master, and name queries. These create
		the symphony of announcements by which network browsing is made possible.
		</para>
	
	  <para><indexterm>
	      <primary>CIFS</primary>
	    </indexterm>
		For detailed information regarding the precise behavior of the CIFS/SMB protocols, the
		reader is referred to the book <quote>Implementing CIFS: The Common Internet File System,</quote>
		by Christopher Hertel, Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR, ISBN: 013047116X.
		</para>

		</sect3>

	</sect2>

	<sect2 id="secondmachine">
	<title>Second Machine Startup Broadcast Interaction</title>

	<para>
	At this time, the machine you used to capture the single system startup trace should still be running.
	The objective of this task is to identify the interaction of two machines in respect to broadcast activity.
	</para>

	<procedure>
		<step><para>
		On the machine from which network activity will be monitored (using <command>ethereal</command>),
		launch <command>ethereal</command> and click
			<menuchoice>
				<guimenu>Capture</guimenu>
				<guimenuitem>Start</guimenuitem>
			</menuchoice>.
		</para>

		<para>
		Click: 
		<orderedlist>
		<listitem>Update list of packets in real time</listitem>
		<listitem>Automatic scrolling in live capture</listitem>
		<listitem>Enable MAC name resolution </listitem>
		<listitem>Enable network name resolution </listitem>
		<listitem>Enable transport name resolution</listitem>
		</orderedlist>
		Click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		Start the second Windows 9x/Me machine. Let it run for 15-20 minutes. While monitoring, do not press
		any keyboard keys, do not click any on-screen icons or menus, and do not answer any dialog boxes.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		At the conclusion of the capture time, stop the capture. Be sure to save the captured data so you
		can examine the network data capture again at a later date should that be necessary.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		Analyze the capture trace, taking note of the transport protocols used, the types of messages observed,
		and what interaction took place between the two machines. Leave both machines running for the next task.
		</para></step>
	</procedure>

		<sect3>
		<title>Findings</title>

		<para>
		<link linkend="capsstats02"/> summarizes capture statistics observed. As in the previous case,
		all announcements used UDP/IP broadcasts. Also, as was observed with the last example, the second
		Windows 9x/Me machine broadcasts its name on startup to ensure that there exists no name clash
		(i.e., the name is already registered by another machine) on the network segment. Those wishing
		to explore the inner details of the precise mechanism of how this functions should refer to
		the book <quote>Implementing CIFS: The Common Internet File System,</quote> referred to previously.
		</para>

		<table id="capsstats02">
                        <title>Second Machine (Windows 98) &smbmdash; Capture Statistics</title>
                        <tgroup cols="4">
                                <colspec align="left" colwidth="3*"/>
                                <colspec align="center"/>
                                <colspec align="center"/>
                                <colspec align="left" colwidth="3*"/>
                                <thead>
                                        <row>
                                                <entry>Message</entry>
                                                <entry>Type</entry>
                                                <entry>Num</entry>
                                                <entry>Notes</entry>
                                        </row>
                                </thead>
                                <tbody>
                                        <row>
                                                <entry>MILGATE98&lt;00&gt;</entry>
                                                <entry>Reg</entry>
                                                <entry>8</entry>
                                                <entry>4 lots of 2, 0.6 sec apart.</entry>
                                        </row>
                                        <row>
                                                <entry>MILGATE98&lt;03&gt;</entry>
                                                <entry>Reg</entry>
                                                <entry>8</entry>
                                                <entry>4 lots of 2, 0.6 sec apart.</entry>
                                        </row>
                                        <row>
                                                <entry>MILGATE98&lt;20&gt;</entry>
                                                <entry>Reg</entry>
                                                <entry>8</entry>
                                                <entry>4 lots of 2, 0.75 sec apart.</entry>
                                        </row>
                                        <row>
                                                <entry>MIDEARTH&lt;00&gt;</entry>
                                                <entry>Reg</entry>
                                                <entry>8</entry>
                                                <entry>4 lots of 2, 0.75 sec apart.</entry>
                                        </row>
                                        <row>
                                                <entry>MIDEARTH&lt;1d&gt;</entry>
                                                <entry>Reg</entry>
                                                <entry>8</entry>
                                                <entry>4 lots of 2, 0.75 sec apart.</entry>
                                        </row>
                                        <row>
                                                <entry>MIDEARTH&lt;1e&gt;</entry>
                                                <entry>Reg</entry>
                                                <entry>8</entry>
                                                <entry>4 lots of 2, 0.75 sec apart.</entry>
                                        </row>
                                        <row>
                                                <entry>MIDEARTH&lt;1b&gt;</entry>
                                                <entry>Qry</entry>
                                                <entry>18</entry>
                                                <entry>900 sec apart at stable operation.</entry>
                                        </row>
                                        <row>
                                                <entry>JHT&lt;03&gt;</entry>
                                                <entry>Reg</entry>
                                                <entry>2</entry>
                                                <entry>This is the name of the user that logged onto Windows.</entry>
                                        </row>
                                        <row>
                                                <entry>Host Announcement MILGATE98</entry>
                                                <entry>Ann</entry>
                                                <entry>14</entry>
                                                <entry>Every 120 sec.</entry>
                                        </row>
                                        <row>
                                                <entry>Domain/Workgroup Announcement MIDEARTH</entry>
                                                <entry>Ann</entry>
                                                <entry>6</entry>
                                                <entry>900 sec apart at stable operation.</entry>
                                        </row>
                                        <row>
                                                <entry>Local Master Announcement WINEPRESSME</entry>
                                                <entry>Ann</entry>
                                                <entry>6</entry>
                                                <entry>Insufficient detail to determine frequency.</entry>
                                        </row>
				</tbody>
			</tgroup>
		</table>

		<para>
	    	<indexterm><primary>host announcement</primary></indexterm>
		<indexterm><primary>Local Master Announcement</primary></indexterm>
		<indexterm><primary>Workgroup Announcement</primary></indexterm>
		Observation of the contents of Host Announcements, Domain/Workgroup Announcements,
		and Local Master Announcements is instructive. These messages convey a significant
		level of detail regarding the nature of each machine that is on the network. An example
		dissection of a Host Announcement is given in <link linkend="hostannounce"/>.
		</para>

		</sect3>

		<image id="hostannounce">
			<imagedescription>Typical Windows 9x/Me Host Announcement</imagedescription>
			<imagefile scale="41">HostAnnouncment</imagefile>
		</image>

	</sect2>

	<sect2>
	<title>Simple Windows Client Connection Characteristics</title>

	<para>
	The purpose of this exercise is to discover how Microsoft Windows clients create (establish)
	connections with remote servers. The methodology involves analysis of a key aspect of how
	Windows clients access remote servers: the session setup protocol.
	</para>

	<procedure>
		<step><para>
		Configure a Windows 9x/Me machine (MILGATE98) with a share called <constant>Stuff</constant>.
		Create a <parameter>Full Access</parameter> control password on this share.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		Configure another Windows 9x/Me machine (WINEPRESSME) as a client. Make sure that it exports
		no shared resources.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		Start both Windows 9x/Me machines and allow them to stabilize for 10 minutes. Log on to both
		machines using a user name (JHT) of your choice. Wait approximately two minutes before proceeding.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		Start ethereal (or the network sniffer of your choice).
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		From the WINEPRESSME machine, right-click <guimenu>Network Neighborhood</guimenu>, select
		<guimenuitem>Explore</guimenuitem>, select 
		<menuchoice>
			<guimenuitem>My Network Places</guimenuitem>
			<guimenuitem>Entire Network</guimenuitem>
			<guimenuitem>MIDEARTH</guimenuitem>
			<guimenuitem>MILGATE98</guimenuitem>
			<guimenuitem>Stuff</guimenuitem>
		</menuchoice>.
		Enter the password you set for the <constant>Full Control</constant> mode for the
		<constant>Stuff</constant> share.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		When the share called <constant>Stuff</constant> is being displayed, stop the capture.
		Save the captured data in case it is needed for later analysis.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		<indexterm><primary>session setup</primary></indexterm>
		From the top of the packets captured, scan down to locate the first packet that has
		interpreted as <constant>Session Setup AndX, User: anonymous; Tree Connect AndX, 
		Path: \\MILGATE98\IPC$</constant>.
		</para></step>

	  <step><para><indexterm>
		<primary>Session Setup</primary>
	      </indexterm><indexterm>
		<primary>Tree Connect</primary>
	      </indexterm>
		In the dissection (analysis) panel, expand the <constant>SMB, Session Setup AndX Request,
		and Tree Connect AndX Request</constant>. Examine both operations. Identify the name of
		the user Account and what password was used. The Account name should be empty.
		This is a <constant>NULL</constant> session setup packet.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		Return to the packet capture sequence. There will be a number of packets that have been
		decoded of the type <constant>Session Setup AndX</constant>. Locate the last such packet
		that was targeted at the <constant>\\MILGATE98\IPC$</constant> service.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		<indexterm><primary>password length</primary></indexterm>
		<indexterm><primary>User Mode</primary></indexterm>
		Dissect this packet as per the one above. This packet should have a password length
		of 24 (characters) and should have a password field, the contents of which is a
		long hexadecimal number. Observe the name in the Account field. This is a User Mode
		session setup packet.
		</para></step>
	</procedure>

		<sect3>
		<title>Findings and Comments</title>

	  	<para>
		<indexterm><primary>IPC$</primary></indexterm>
		The <constant>IPC$</constant> share serves a vital purpose<footnote>TOSHARG, Sect 4.5.1</footnote> 
		in SMB/CIFS based networking.  A Windows client connects to this resource to obtain the list of 
		resources that are available on the server. The server responds with the shares and print queues that
		are available. In most but not all cases, the connection is made with a <constant>NULL</constant>
		username and a <constant>NULL</constant> password.
		</para>

	  	<para>
		<indexterm><primary>account credentials</primary></indexterm>
		The two packets examined are material evidence with respect to how Windows clients may
		interoperate with Samba. Samba requires every connection setup to be authenticated using
		valid UNIX account credentials (UID/GID). This means that even a <constant>NULL</constant>
		session setup can be established only by automatically mapping it to a valid UNIX
		account.
		</para>

		<para>
	    <indexterm><primary>NULL session</primary></indexterm><indexterm>
	      <primary>guest account</primary>
	    </indexterm>
	    <indexterm><primary>nobody</primary></indexterm>
		Samba has a special name for the <constant>NULL</constant>, or empty, user account.
		It calls that the <smbconfoption><name>guest account</name></smbconfoption>. The
		default value of this parameter is <constant>nobody</constant>; however, this can be
		changed to map the function of the guest account to any other UNIX identity. Some
		UNIX administrators prefer to map this account to the system default anonymous
		FTP account. A sample NULL Session Setup AndX packet dissection is shown in
		<link linkend="nullconnect"/>.
		</para>

		<image id="nullconnect">
			<imagedescription>Typical Windows 9x/Me NULL SessionSetUp AndX Request</imagedescription>

			<imagefile scale="41">NullConnect</imagefile>
		</image>

		<para>
	    	<indexterm><primary>nobody</primary></indexterm>
		<indexterm><primary>/etc/passwd</primary></indexterm>
		<indexterm><primary>guest account</primary></indexterm>
		When a UNIX/Linux system does not have a <constant>nobody</constant> user account
		(<filename>/etc/passwd</filename>), the operation of the <constant>NULL</constant>
		account cannot validate and thus connections that utilize the guest account
		fail. This breaks all ability to browse the Samba server and is a common
		problem reported on the Samba mailing list. A sample User Mode Session Setup AndX
		is shown in <link linkend="userconnect"/>.
		</para>

		<image id="userconnect">
			<imagedescription>Typical Windows 9x/Me User SessionSetUp AndX Request</imagedescription>
			<imagefile scale="41">UserConnect</imagefile>
		</image>

	 	<para>
		<indexterm><primary>encrypted</primary></indexterm>
		The User Mode connection packet contains the account name and the domain name.
		The password is provided in Microsoft encrypted form, and its length is shown
		as 24 characters. This is the length of Microsoft encrypted passwords.
		</para>

		</sect3>

	</sect2>

	<sect2>
	<title>Windows 200x/XP Client Interaction with Samba-3</title>

	<para>
	By now you may be asking, <quote>Why did you choose to work with Windows 9x/Me?</quote>
	</para>

	<para>
	First, we want to demonstrate the simple case. This book is not intended to be a detailed treatise
	on the Windows networking protocols, but rather to provide prescriptive guidance for deployment of Samba.
	Second, by starting out with the simple protocol, it can be demonstrated that the more complex case mostly
	follows the same principles.
	</para>

	<para>
	The following exercise demonstrates the case that even MS Windows XP Professional with up-to-date service
	updates also uses the <constant>NULL</constant> account, as well as user accounts. Simply follow the procedure
	to complete this exercise.
	</para>

	<para>
	To complete this exercise, you need a Windows XP Professional client that has been configured as
	a Domain Member of either a Samba controlled domain or a Windows NT4 or 200x Active Directory domain.
	Here we do not provide details for how to configure this, as full coverage is provided later in this book.
	</para>

	<procedure>

		<step><para>
		Start your Domain Controller. Also, start the ethereal monitoring machine, launch ethereal,
		and then wait for the next step to complete.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		Start the Windows XP Client and wait five minutes before proceeding.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		On the machine from which network activity will be monitored (using <command>ethereal</command>),
                launch <command>ethereal</command> and click
                        <menuchoice>
                                <guimenu>Capture</guimenu>
                                <guimenuitem>Start</guimenuitem>
                        </menuchoice>.
                </para>

                <para>
                Click:
                <orderedlist>
                <listitem>Update list of packets in real time</listitem>
                <listitem>Automatic scrolling in live capture</listitem>
                <listitem>Enable MAC name resolution </listitem>
                <listitem>Enable network name resolution </listitem>
                <listitem>Enable transport name resolution</listitem>
                </orderedlist>
                Click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		On the Windows XP Professional client: Press <guimenu>Ctrl-Alt-Delete</guimenu> to bring 
		up the domain logon screen. Log in using valid credentials for a domain user account.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		Now proceed to connect to the Domain Controller as follows:
		<menuchoice>
			<guimenu>Start</guimenu>
			<guimenuitem>(right-click) My Network Places</guimenuitem>
			<guimenuitem>Explore</guimenuitem>
			<guimenuitem>{Left Panel} [+] Entire Network</guimenuitem>
			<guimenuitem>{Left Panel} [+] Microsoft Windows Network</guimenuitem>
			<guimenuitem>{Left Panel} [+] Midearth</guimenuitem>
			<guimenuitem>{Left Panel} [+] Frodo</guimenuitem>
			<guimenuitem>{Left Panel} [+] data</guimenuitem>
		</menuchoice>. Close the explorer window.
		</para>

		<para>
		In this step, our domain name is <constant>Midearth</constant>, the domain controller is called
		<constant>Frodo</constant>, and we have connected to a share called <constant>data</constant>.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		Stop the capture on the <command>ethereal</command> monitoring machine. Be sure to save the captured data
		to a file so that you can refer to it again later.
		</para></step>

		<step><para>
		If desired, the Windows XP Professional client and the Domain Controller are no longer needed for exercises
		in this chapter.
		</para></step>

		 <step><para>
		<indexterm><primary>NTLMSSP_AUTH</primary></indexterm>
                <indexterm><primary>session setup</primary></indexterm>
                From the top of the packets captured, scan down to locate the first packet that has
                interpreted as <constant>Session Setup AndX Request, NTLMSSP_AUTH</constant>.
                </para></step>

                <step><para>
		<indexterm><primary>GSS-API</primary></indexterm>
		<indexterm><primary>SPNEGO</primary></indexterm>
		<indexterm><primary>NTLMSSP</primary></indexterm>
                In the dissection (analysis) panel, expand the <constant>SMB, Session Setup AndX Request</constant>.
		Expand the packet decode information, beginning at the <constant>Security Blob:</constant>
		entry. Expand the <constant>GSS-API -> SPNEGO -> netTokenTarg -> responseToken -> NTLMSSP</constant>
		keys.  This should reveal that this is a <constant>NULL</constant> session setup packet.
		The <constant>User name: NULL</constant> indicates this. An example decode is shown in
		<link linkend="XPCap01"/>.
                </para></step>

                <step><para>
                Return to the packet capture sequence. There will be a number of packets that have been
                decoded of the type <constant>Session Setup AndX Request</constant>. Click the last such packet that
		has been decoded as <constant>Session Setup AndX Request, NTLMSSP_AUTH</constant>.
                </para></step>

                <step><para>
		<indexterm><primary>encrypted password</primary></indexterm>
                In the dissection (analysis) panel, expand the <constant>SMB, Session Setup AndX Request</constant>.
                Expand the packet decode information, beginning at the <constant>Security Blob:</constant>
                entry. Expand the <constant>GSS-API -> SPNEGO -> netTokenTarg -> responseToken -> NTLMSSP</constant>
                keys.  This should reveal that this is a <constant>User Mode</constant> session setup packet.
                The <constant>User name: jht</constant> indicates this. An example decode is shown in
                <link linkend="XPCap02"/>. In this case the user name was <constant>jht</constant>. This packet
		decode includes the <constant>Lan Manager Response:</constant> and the <constant>NTLM Response:</constant>.
		The value of these two parameters is the Microsoft encrypted password hashes, respectively, the LanMan
		password and then the NT (case-preserving) password hash.
                </para></step>

                <step><para>
                <indexterm><primary>password length</primary></indexterm>
                <indexterm><primary>User Mode</primary></indexterm>
                The passwords are 24 characters long hexadecimal numbers. This packet confirms that this is a User Mode
		session setup packet.
                </para></step>

	</procedure>

	<image id="XPCap01">
        <imagedescription>Typical Windows XP NULL Session Setup AndX Request</imagedescription>
		<imagefile scale="50">WindowsXP-NullConnection</imagefile>
	</image>

	<image id="XPCap02">
        <imagedescription>Typical Windows XP User Session Setup AndX Request</imagedescription>
		<imagefile scale="50">WindowsXP-UserConnection</imagefile>
	</image>

		<sect3>
		<title>Discussion</title>

	  <para><indexterm>
	      <primary>NULL-Session</primary>
	    </indexterm>
		This exercise demonstrates that, while the specific protocol for the Session Setup AndX is handled
		in a more sophisticated manner by recent MS Windows clients, the underlying rules or principles
		remain the same. Thus it is demonstrated  that MS Windows XP Professional clients still use a 
		<constant>NULL-Session</constant> connection to query and locate resources on an advanced network
		technology server (one using Windows NT4/200x or Samba). It also demonstrates that an authenticated
		connection must be made before resources can be used.
		</para>

		</sect3>

	</sect2>

	<sect2>
	<title>Conclusions to Exercises</title>

	<para>
	In summary, the following points have been established in this chapter:
	</para>

	<itemizedlist>
		<listitem><para>
		When NetBIOS over TCP/IP protocols are enabled, MS Windows networking employs broadcast
		oriented messaging protocols to provide knowledge of network services.
		</para></listitem>

		<listitem><para>
		Network browsing protocols query information stored on Browse Masters that manage
		information provided by NetBIOS Name Registrations and by way of on-going Host 
		Announcements and Workgroup Announcements.
		</para></listitem>

		<listitem><para>
		All Samba servers must be configured with a mechanism for mapping the <constant>NULL-Session</constant>
		to a valid but non-privileged UNIX system account.
		</para></listitem>

		<listitem><para>
		The use of Microsoft encrypted passwords is built right into the fabric of Windows
		networking operations. Such passwords cannot be provided from the UNIX <filename>/etc/passwd</filename>
		database and thus must be stored elsewhere on the UNIX system in a manner that Samba can
		use. Samba-2.x permitted such encrypted passwords to be stored in the <constant>smbpasswd</constant>
		file or in an LDAP database. Samba-3 permits that use of multiple different <parameter>passdb backend</parameter>
		databases, in concurrent deploy. Refer to <emphasis>TOSHARG</emphasis>, Chapter 10, <quote>Account Information Databases.</quote>
		</para></listitem>
	</itemizedlist>

	</sect2>

</sect1>

<sect1 id="chap01conc">
	<title>Dissection and Discussion</title>

	<para>
	<indexterm><primary>guest account</primary></indexterm>
	The exercises demonstrate the use of the <constant>guest</constant> account, the way that
	MS Windows clients and servers resolve computer names to a TCP/IP address, and how connections
	between a client and a server are established.
	</para>

	<para>
	Those wishing background information regarding NetBIOS name types should refer to
	the Microsoft Knowledge Base Article
	<ulink url="http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q102/78/8.asp">Q102878.</ulink>
	</para>

	<sect2>
		<title>Technical Issues</title>

		<para>
		<indexterm><primary>guest account</primary></indexterm>
		Network browsing involves SMB broadcast announcements, SMB enumeration requests,
		connections to the <constant>IPC$</constant> share, share enumerations, and SMB connection
		setup processes. The use of anonymous connections to a Samba server involve the use of
		the <parameter>guest account</parameter> that must map to a valid UNIX UID.
		</para>

	</sect2>

</sect1>

<sect1 id="chap01qa">
	<title>Questions and Answers</title>

	<para>
	The questions and answers given in this section are designed to highlight important aspects of Microsoft
	Windows networking.
	</para>

	<qandaset defaultlabel="chap01qa" type="number">
	<qandaentry>
	<question>

		<para>
		What is the significance of the MIDEARTH&lt;1b&gt; type query?
		</para>

	</question>
	<answer>

		<para>
		<indexterm><primary>Domain Master Browser</primary><see>DMB</see></indexterm>
		<indexterm><primary>DMB</primary></indexterm>
		This is a broadcast announcement by which the Windows machine is attempting to
		locate a Domain Master Browser (DMB) in the event that it might exist on the network.
		Refer to <emphasis>TOSHARG</emphasis> Chapter 9, Section 9.7, <quote>Technical Overview of Browsing</quote>
		for details regarding the function of the DMB and its role in network browsing.
		</para>

	</answer>
	</qandaentry>

	<qandaentry>
	<question>

		<para>
		What is the significance of the MIDEARTH&lt;1d&gt; type name registration?
		</para>

	</question>
	<answer>

		<para>
		<indexterm><primary>Local Master Browser</primary><see>LMB</see></indexterm>
		<indexterm><primary>LMB</primary></indexterm>
		This name registration records the machine IP addresses of the Local Master Browsers (LMBs).
		Network clients can query this name type to obtain a list of browser servers from the
		Master Browser.
		</para>

		<para>
		The LMB is responsible for monitoring all host announcements on the local network and for
		collating the information contained within them. Using this information, it can provide answers to other Windows
		network clients that request information such as:
		</para>

		<itemizedlist>
			<listitem><para>
			The list of machines known to the LMB (i.e., the browse list)
			</para></listitem>

			<listitem><para>
			The IP addresses of all Domain Controllers known for the Domain
			</para></listitem>

			<listitem><para>
			The IP addresses of LMBs
			</para></listitem>

			<listitem><para>
			The IP address of the DMB (if one exists)
			</para></listitem>

			<listitem><para>
			The IP address of the LMB on the local segment
			</para></listitem>
		</itemizedlist>

        </answer>
        </qandaentry>

        <qandaentry>
        <question>

                <para>
		What is the role and significance of the &lt;01&gt;&lt;02&gt;__MSBROWSE__&lt;02&gt;&lt;01&gt;
		name registration?
                </para>

        </question>
        <answer>

                <para>
		<indexterm><primary>Browse Master</primary></indexterm>
		This name is registered by the Browse Master to broadcast and receive domain announcements.
		Its scope is limited to the local network segment, or subnet. By querying this name type,
		Master Browsers on networks that have multiple domains can find  the names of Master Browsers
		for each domain.
		</para>

	</answer>
	</qandaentry>

	<qandaentry>
	<question>

		<para>
		What is the significance of the MIDEARTH&lt;1e&gt; type name registration?
		</para>

	</question>
	<answer>

		<para>
		<indexterm><primary>Browser Election Service</primary></indexterm>
		This name is registered by all Browse Masters in a domain or workgroup. The registration
		name type is known as the Browser Election Service. Master Browsers register themselves
		with this name type so that Domain Master Browsers can locate them to perform cross-subnet
		browse list updates. This name type is also used to initiate elections for Master Browsers.
		</para>

	</answer>
	</qandaentry>

	<qandaentry>
	<question>

		<para>
		<indexterm><primary>guest account</primary></indexterm>
		What is the significance of the <parameter>guest account</parameter> in smb.conf?
		</para>

	</question>
	<answer>

		<para>
		This parameter specifies the default UNIX account to which MS Windows networking
		NULL session connections are mapped. The default name for the UNIX account used for
		this mapping is called <constant>nobody</constant>. If the UNIX/Linux system that
		is hosting Samba does not have a <constant>nobody</constant> account and an alternate
		mapping has not been specified, network browsing will not work at all.
		</para>

		<para>
		It should be noted that the <parameter>guest account</parameter> is essential to
		Samba operation. Either the operating system must have an account called <constant>nobody</constant>
		or there must be an entry in the &smb.conf; file with a valid UNIX account. For example,
		<smbconfoption><name>guest account</name><value>ftp</value></smbconfoption>.
		</para>

	</answer>
	</qandaentry>

	<qandaentry>
	<question>

		<para>
		Is it possible to reduce network broadcast activity with Samba-3?
		</para>

	</question>
	<answer>

		<para>
		<indexterm><primary>WINS</primary></indexterm>
		<indexterm><primary>NetBIOS</primary></indexterm>
		Yes, there are two ways to do this. The first involves use of WINS (See <emphasis>TOSHARG</emphasis>, Chapter 9, 
		Section 9.5, <quote>WINS &smbmdash; The Windows Inter-networking Name Server</quote>), the
		alternate method involves disabling the use of NetBIOS over TCP/IP. This second method requires
		a correctly configured DNS server (see <emphasis>TOSHARG</emphasis>, Chapter 9, Section 9.3, <quote>Discussion</quote>).
		</para>

		<para>
		<indexterm><primary>broadcast</primary></indexterm>
		<indexterm><primary>NetBIOS</primary><secondary>Node Type</secondary></indexterm>
		<indexterm><primary>Hybrid</primary></indexterm>
		The use of WINS reduces network broadcast traffic. The reduction is greatest when all network 
		clients are configured to operate in <parameter>Hybrid Mode</parameter>. This can be effected through 
		use of DHCP to set the NetBIOS node type to type 8 for all network clients. Additionally, it is 
		beneficial to configure Samba to use <smbconfoption><name>name resolve order</name><value>wins host 
		bcast</value></smbconfoption>.
		</para>

		<note><para>
		Use of SMB without NetBIOS is possible only on Windows 200x/XP Professional clients and servers, as
		well as with Samba-3.
		</para></note>

	</answer>
	</qandaentry>

	<qandaentry>
	<question>

		<para>
		Can I just use plain-text passwords with Samba?
		</para>

	</question>
	<answer>

		<para>
		Yes, you can configure Samba to use plain-text passwords, though this does create a few problems.
		</para>

		<para>
		First, the use of <filename>/etc/passwd</filename> based plain-text passwords requires that registry
		modifications be made on all MS Windows client machines to enable plain-text passwords support. This
		significantly diminishes the security of MS Windows client operation. Many network administrators
		are bitterly opposed to doing this.
		</para>

		<para>
		Second, Microsoft has not maintained plain-text password support since the default setting was made
		disabling this. When network connections are dropped by the client it is not be possible to re-establish
		the connection automatically. Users need to log off and then log on again. Plain-text password support
		may interfere with recent enhancements that are part of the Microsoft move toward a more secure computing
		environment. 
		</para>

		<para>
		Samba-3 supports Microsoft encrypted passwords. Be advised not to reintroduce plain-text password handling. 
		Just create user accounts by running: <command>smbpasswd -a 'username'</command>
		</para>

		<para>
		It is not possible to add a user to the <parameter>passdb backend</parameter> database unless there is
		a UNIX system account for that user. On systems that run <command>winbindd</command> to access the Samba
		PDC/BDC to provide Windows user and group accounts, the <parameter>idmap uid, idmap gid</parameter> ranges
		set in the &smb.conf; file provide the local UID/GIDs needed for local identity management purposes.
		</para>

	</answer>
	</qandaentry>

	<qandaentry>
	<question>

		<para>
		What parameter in the &smb.conf; file is used to enable the use of encrypted passwords?
		</para>

	</question>
	<answer>

		<para>
		The parameter in the &smb.conf; file that controls this behavior is known as <parameter>encrypt
		passwords</parameter>. The default setting for this in Samba-3 is <constant>Yes (Enabled)</constant>.
		</para>

	</answer>
	</qandaentry>

	<qandaentry>
	<question>

		<para>
		Is it necessary to specify <smbconfoption><name>encrypt passwords</name><value>Yes</value></smbconfoption>
		when Samba-3 is configured as a Domain Member?
		</para>

	</question>
	<answer>

		<para>
		No. This is the default behavior.
		</para>

	</answer>
	</qandaentry>

	<qandaentry>
	<question>

		<para>
		Is it necessary to specify a <parameter>guest account</parameter> when Samba-3 is configured
		as a Domain Member server?
		</para>

	</question>
	<answer>

		<para>
		Yes. This is a local function on the server. The default setting is to use the UNIX account
		<constant>nobody</constant>. If this account does not exist on the UNIX server, then it is
		necessary to provide a <smbconfoption><name>guest account</name><value>an_account</value></smbconfoption>,
		where <constant>an_account</constant> is a valid local UNIX user account.
		</para>

	</answer>
	</qandaentry>
	</qandaset>

</sect1>

</chapter>