I am new to the Linux world and have spent the last 2 weeks getting accustomed to Linux. Thus far my experience has been successful, with the exception that I cannot see the shared drives, printers, or even the Windows box that has my primary printer. I have setup and configured both Samba Server and client. THe WinXP SP2 box can see my linux shares and connect to them, however I can't even see the Windows box. I'm at a loss, as i'm in new territory. I've spent hours reading books and posts, but as of yet am unable to get things to work. I'd appreciate a little bit of help. I'm not sure what information you would need to help me out, so let me know and I'll post it.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Thorlin

well... what do you mean "I cannot see the shared drives, printers, or even the Windows box". I mean... what are you using to try/test?
The very first step is usually to use smbclient using your windoze machine ip, like in the following :
This will list what's i shared on the windoze box to anonymous users (for now, we don't need auth, it's just testing).
Then, you could try with name, sometime, only the netbios name resolution is wrong :
If everything is fine so far... try to mount a shared drive, something like :
If everything went fine... well there is probably just something slightly wrong in your config.

with Winxp sp2 u need to allow more exceptions in ur LAN firewall

regards

If I key in the following I see what is below.

BJlinux:~ # smbclient -L //192.168.1.102
Password:
Domain=[FAMDENDELL] OS=[Windows 5.1] Server=[Windows 2000 LAN Manager]

Sharename Type Comment
--------- ---- -------
IPC$ IPC Remote IPC
D$ Disk Default share
print$ Disk Printer Drivers
SharedDocs Disk
ADMIN$ Disk Remote Admin
C$ Disk Default share
Printer Printer Microsoft Office Document Image Writer
HPlaser Printer HP LaserJet 1100 (MS)
session request to 192.168.1.102 failed (Called name not present)
session request to 192 failed (Called name not present)
Domain=[FAMDENDELL] OS=[Windows 5.1] Server=[Windows 2000 LAN Manager]

Server Comment
--------- -------

Workgroup Master
--------- -------

However, if I try with the name I get the following.

BJlinux:~ # smbclient -L //FAMDENDELL
Connection to FAMDENDELL failed

I was also able to mount the SharedDocs folder using the IP. What would be the issue with my config? I have included it below. I really appreciate your help.

# smb.conf is the main Samba configuration file. You find a full commented
# version at /usr/share/doc/packages/samba/examples/smb.conf.SUSE if the
# samba-doc package is installed.
# Date: 2005-04-04
[global]
workgroup = Vlhome
printcap name = cups
printcap cache time = 750
cups options = raw
printer admin = @ntadmin, root, administrator
username map = /etc/samba/smbusers
map to guest = Bad User
include = /etc/samba/dhcp.conf
logon path = \\%L\profiles\.msprofile
logon home = \\%L\%U\.9xprofile
logon drive = P:
add machine script = /usr/sbin/useradd -c Machine -d /var/lib/nobody -s /bin/false %m$
domain master = No
security = user
restrict anonymous = no
max protocol = NT
ldap ssl = No
server signing = Auto
domain logons = No
netbios name = bjlinux
server string = BJLinux Samba Server
idmap gid = 10000-20000
idmap uid = 10000-20000
encrypt passwords = yes
local master = no

[homes]
comment = Home Directories
valid users = %S
browseable = No
read only = No
inherit acls = Yes

[profiles]
comment = Network Profiles Service
path = %H
read only = No
store dos attributes = Yes
create mask = 0600
directory mask = 0700

[users]
comment = All users
path = /home
read only = No
inherit acls = Yes
veto files = /aquota.user/groups/shares/

[groups]
comment = All groups
path = /home/groups
read only = No
inherit acls = Yes

[printers]
comment = All Printers
path = /var/tmp
printable = Yes
create mask = 0600
browseable = No

[print$]
comment = Printer Drivers
path = /var/lib/samba/drivers
write list = @ntadmin root
force group = ntadmin
create mask = 0664
directory mask = 0775