Fedora 8: Trying to figure out how to set up SAMBA with Windows XP
 

So I have two computers on a network with a Linksys router. All I want to do is make my Fedora 8 box a file server with SAMBA but I have no idea what I need to do. Yes I am reading the smb.conf file and I have looked over the smb.conf man page. I also have some ebooks and also an old Linux text book that are all talking about how to do this, but as usual, I am still having trouble. I just dont know exactly what I need to change in the smb.conf file to get this working. Also, I'm not sure what I need to do on my Windows XP box either.

Can someone help me out or point me to a step by step process of this? (Step by step of Fedora 8 with XP specifically).

Thanks, and I am trying my hardest to learn here...

One thing is that all networked machines need to be on the same work group. Need to check that the smb.conf file is edited for the same work groups as your other windows xp machines. A very good program for working with your samba server is a program that normally is installed is SWAT.

Start at Samba's site - they have a huge "book" that works through a whole lot of setups.

Once Samba works, all you need to do from Windows is to map a network drive, and you can do this from Explorer

lol, I didnt even think of looking at their site. I'm there now though and it looks very helpful. Thanks!!

No probs. Given what a lot of app sites are like, I can't say I entirely blame you. Samba's is good though

Well I am still having trouble. Let me post what I have so far:

Windows XP Pro system: My Workgroup is WORKGROUP

Fedora 8:

I have the smb.conf file configured with each edited section this way:

Now I started up samba and went to my XP system and went to map a drive but I don't see anything available from Fedora. I'm not sure what to do at this point.

Another item to check are your smb and nmb services running?

Example

ps -ef | grep smb

ps -ef | grep nmb

Here are some key points from mine. This is a server that gets taken to LAN party's and works great.



after tweaking your cfg do this:

service smb stop
service nmb stop
service smb start
service nmb start



you could do a restart on each... I prefer to manually do it

After looking at what I had posted up there I have a question for everyone..

Can I use eth1 in this string?:

wins server = 192.168.1.141

Like I did here:

interfaces = lo eth1

hmm, im still not getting it to work. However, I go to map a drive in XP and I do see a localhost computer in the network which wasnt there before, which I think is SAMBA. But I click on it and I can log in or do anything. What might I be doing wrong?

Step 1 - try it with SELinux off (setenforce 0 as root in a terminal - only lasts til reboot)

Step 2 make sure you've allowed samaba traffic in your firewall. I would think security setting will allow for Samba, otehrwise open ports 137-139 and optionally 445. Perhaps just diasable iptables while you test (service iptables stop)

Give you Server String a better name than localhost (although the fact you have that suggests tha tyou ay have some more configutration to go)

Thanks for the input Bill. However, I already have SELinux off and my basic XP firewall too, and I also renamed my server Fedora8box, which now shows up in the Drive Map search results. I can see computers on the network but there are no folders i can click on under Fedora8box... I guess that means I need to share one, but I thought I already did that. Let me try again...

Post the general and share sections of your config (ie cut the comments crap out)

First thing is you need security. What are you planning? Perhaps start with security = share.