Getting Started with Samba Server: File Sharing Made Easy

In today’s interconnected world, sharing files seamlessly across different operating systems is essential for both personal and business environments. Samba, a powerful software suite, facilitates this by enabling file and print sharing between Linux/Unix servers and Windows clients. This article will guide you through the steps to set up a Samba server on a Linux system, allowing you to share files effortlessly.

What is Samba?

Samba is an open-source implementation of the SMB/CIFS networking protocol. It allows Linux systems to communicate with Windows systems, enabling file and printer sharing. Samba also provides authentication and authorization services, making it a robust choice for both home and enterprise networks.

Why Use Samba?

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Samba allows seamless integration between Linux and Windows systems, making it an ideal choice for mixed-OS environments.
• Access Control: It offers fine-grained access control mechanisms, ensuring that only authorized users can access shared resources.
• Active Directory Integration: Samba can integrate with Windows Active Directory, providing a familiar management interface for administrators.
• Flexibility and Performance: Samba is highly configurable and can be optimized for performance based on specific needs.

Installing Samba

On Ubuntu/Debian

sudo apt update
sudo apt install samba

On Archliux

sudo pacman -S samba

On Fedora

 sudo dnf install samba samba-common samba-client 

Configuring Samba

Many Linux distributions include a sample configuration file that you can customize to suit your needs. In this guide, we’ll be using the minimal configuration file located at /etc/samba/smb.conf that comes with the Manjaro distribution.

[global]
   workgroup = WORKGROUP
   dns proxy = no
   log file = /var/log/samba/%m.log
   max log size = 1000
   client min protocol = SMB3
   server role = standalone server
   passdb backend = tdbsam
   obey pam restrictions = yes
   unix password sync = yes
   passwd program = /usr/bin/passwd %u
   passwd chat = *New*UNIX*password* %n\n *ReType*new*UNIX*password* %n\n *passwd:*all*authentication*tokens*updated*successfully*
   pam password change = yes
   map to guest = Bad Password
   usershare allow guests = yes
   name resolve order = lmhosts bcast host wins
   security = user
   guest account = nobody
   usershare path = /var/lib/samba/usershare
   usershare max shares = 100
   usershare owner only = yes
   force create mode = 0070
   force directory mode = 0070
   load printers = no
   printing = bsd
   printcap name = /dev/null
   disable spoolss = yes
   show add printer wizard = no

To Share a directory we will need to append the following to the config file

[samshare]
comment = Media_shared
path = /home/bt/Downloads/videos
read only = yes
browseable = yes
#valid users = bt
#writable = no

Explanation

• comment = Media_shared — This line provides a description of the share, which can help users understand its purpose. In this case, it’s labeled as “Media_shared.”
• path = /home/bt/Downloads/videos –This specifies the actual directory on the server that is being shared. Here, it points to the videos folder within the Downloads directory of the user bt.
• read only = yes — This setting means the share is read-only. Users can view and access files in this directory but cannot modify or delete them.
• browseable = yes — This setting allows the share to be visible when users browse the network, making it easy for them to find and access the shared folder.This makes it easier for users to find and access the shared resource without needing specific information about it
• valid users = bt — This line is commented out, meaning it’s not currently active. If enabled, it would restrict access to only the user bt, allowing only this user to access the share.

Create Samba User

# sudo smbpasswd -a <username> is used to add a new user to the Samba database and set a password for that user

sudo smbpasswd -a bt 

If you want a Linux user to access Samba shares, you can use their Linux account without needing to create a separate Samba user. However, you still need to run smbpasswd -a to add them to the Samba database and set a Samba password.

Start ,stop ,status and restart samba

sudo systemctl status smb
sudo systemctl start smb
sudo systemctl stop smb
sudo systemctl restart smb

Mounting samba shared directory

sudo mount -t cifs //172.168.0.219/ubshare /home/bt/tmount -o username=ushare,password=jetfire,uid=bt

Explanation

• //172.168.0.219/ubshare: This specifies the network path of the Samba share you want to mount.
  • 172.168.0.219 is the IP address of the Samba server.
  • ubshare is the name of the shared folder on that server.
• /home/bt/tmount: This is the local mount point where the shared directory will be accessible on your Linux system. You need to create this directory beforehand if it doesn’t already exist.
• -o: This option is used to specify additional mount options.
• username=ushare: This specifies the username required to access the Samba share. In this case, the username is ushare.
• password=jetfire: This provides the password associated with the specified username for authentication. Here, the password is jetfire
• uid=bt: This sets the user ID for the mounted files. Files in the mounted share will appear to be owned by the user bt, allowing that user to read and write to the files as if they were local.

Conclusion

Setting up a Samba server on Linux is a straightforward process that greatly enhances your file-sharing capabilities across different operating systems. Whether for personal use or in a corporate environment, Samba offers a reliable and efficient solution for managing shared resources. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a functional and secure Samba server that meets your needs. Happy sharing!