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Setting up the smbconf file » History » Version 5

Gareth Eaton, 12/16/2023 04:17 PM

1 1 Gareth Eaton 
h1.  Setting up the smbconf file
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[[Additional considerations and tips | MORE]]





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Setting up the smb.conf file for Samba involves configuring the various parameters that define the behavior of your Samba server, including the shared directories, authentication settings, and security options. Here's a basic guide on how to set up the smb.conf file:





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*Backup Your Existing Configuration (Optional):*





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Before making changes, it's a good practice to back up your existing smb.conf file in case something goes wrong. You can do this with the following command:





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<pre>





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sudo cp /etc/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.conf.backup





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</pre>





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*Open the smb.conf File for Editing:*





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You can use your preferred text editor to edit the smb.conf file. For example, you can use the nano text editor with the following command:





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<pre>





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sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf





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</pre>





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*Configure Global Settings:*





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The smb.conf file starts with global settings that apply to the entire Samba server. Some common global settings include:





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<pre>





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[global]





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workgroup = WORKGROUP





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server string = Samba Server





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security = user





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encrypt passwords = yes





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</pre>





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*workgroup:* Set your workgroup or domain name.





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*server string:* A description of your Samba server.





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*security:* Set to "user" for user-level security.





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*encrypt passwords:* Enable password encryption.





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*Define Shares:* [[More]]





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Below the global settings, you can define the shared directories by adding sections like this:





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<pre>





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[ShareName]





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path = /path/to/shared/folder





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valid users = user1, user2





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read only = no





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</pre>





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*ShareName:*  Choose a name for your share.





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*path:*  Specify the path to the directory you want to share.





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*valid users:* List the users who are allowed to access this share.





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*read only:* Set to "yes" for read-only access or "no" for read-write access.





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*Configure Share-specific Settings* :





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You can also set specific options for each share. These settings can include access control, guest access, and more.





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*Save and Close the smb.conf File:*





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After making your changes, save the smb.conf file and exit your text editor.





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*Test the Configuration:*





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Before restarting Samba, it's a good idea to test the configuration for syntax errors:





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<pre>





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testparm





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</pre>





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*Restart Samba:*





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After verifying the configuration, restart the Samba service for the changes to take effect:





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<pre>





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sudo systemctl restart smbd





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</pre>





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*Set Samba Passwords:*





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Ensure that the users you've specified in the valid users parameter have Samba passwords set using the smbpasswd command.





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*Open Firewall Ports (if necessary):*





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If you have a firewall enabled, make sure to allow traffic on the necessary ports (e.g., TCP 139, 445) to allow Samba traffic.





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Test Access:





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Finally, test access to your Samba shares from client machines to make sure everything is working as expected.





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This is a basic setup of the smb.conf file. Depending on your requirements, you may need to configure additional options such as user-level or share-level security, domain authentication, printer sharing, and more. Be sure to consult the Samba documentation and relevant resources for your specific use case.