Configuring Samba for Windows file shares

Samba allows Windows machines to access shared areas of a Linux filesystem.

These notes are for configuration on a RedHat 9.0 linux installation and assume that the SMB services are already installed.

Startup

The two SMB daemons are /usr/sbin/smbd and /usr/sbin/nmbd. These are started from init.d.
Check if the smb service is already setup to run automatically from init.d with:

chkconfig --list

Look for SMB in this list for the level that you intend it to run at (eg 3= multiuser text mode)

If it is not in the list, add it with:

chkconfig --add smb

Configure the service to start with:
chkconfig smb on

To startup the services now (only have to do this once), use:

./etc/init.d/smb start

Configuration

Configuration is via the /etc/smb.conf file. Here is a sample basic config:

<code>
[global]
; Uncomment this if you want a guest account
; guest account = nobody
   log file = /var/log/samba-log.%m
   lock directory = /var/lock/samba
   share modes = yes
   encrypt passwords = yes
   smb passwd file = /etc/smbpasswd



[homes]
   comment = Home Directories
   browseable = no
   read only = no
   create mode = 0750

[tmp]
   comment = Temporary file space
   path = /tmp
   read only = no
   public = yes

</code>

Test the config using:
testparm – this validates that the file is correct.

Ensure ports 137, 138 and 139 are open on the Linux server. On my RedHat machine I config the firewall using Lokkit. Run this and to the list of open ports.

Further References:

AOL rumored to be developing next Netscape browser release

AOL, the owners of Netscape since 1999, are rumored to be working on a new release of the Netscape browser. An annoucement of the strategy is expected in December/January. This is an unusual move because AOL have not leveraged the Netscape brand for a long time, and have recently favored Microsoft’s Internet Explorer as the default browser with their AOL portal internet access.

The Netscape browser was created 10 years ago today!

Hibernate in Action review on Slashdot

Slashdot have a good review on the excellent book, Hibernate in Action, written by Gavin King and Christian Bauer.

The review is similar to my own impressions – the book is an excellent read and is well thought out, covering background information and useful examples that make the bok easy to read and follow.

This is probably the best technical book I’ve read (ie meaning actually read from cover to cover, rather than just used as reference material) for a long time. All too often technical books are a regurgitation of the API, or are just too dull to be actually ready as a book.

This book is definitely a recommended purchase for anyone already working with or considering working with Hibernate.