Hi, I'm new to linux and I just installed Red Hat 9. Working great so far but I have a question. I want to share files between my WinXP machine and the Linux computer. So I went in and setup Samba. I go into My Network in WinXP and the linux box shows up but when I go to connect it says that I cannot connect because a duplicate name exists on the network or that I might not have permission... any advice? Thanks.

Have you added a samba user to the redhat system:
man smbadduser

yep, I have a user setup with a name that matches my XP name.

Any firewall running?

First thing to know is that windows XP encrypts passwords so samba has to know of this, In ur Global declartion of the smb.conf file.

it should have the following

[Global]
netbios name = "Samba"
security = user
encrypt passwords = yes


Enter these details changing the netbios name to what ever u want.

Restart smb demon.

From my network places, check to c if "Samba" exists, enter the user name and password that should be what u added using the smbpasswd program.

also make sure that ur in the same work group for samab and xp

and that should be it

also check that the user you log into WinXP is also added in Samba

use eg:
smbadduser Administrator:Administrator

regards
Krishna

Well, it's getting better I think. I added those lines to the smb.conf file and changed my account name for the XP machine so that it's the same name as the linux username. Now when I go to connect it says that "The parameter is incorrect." I'll keep searching around. Yes I do use a router to connect the two computers. I'll check into the configuration for it. Thanks for the help.

Could it be something to do with the firewall that is built into the router?

When does it say invalid Parameter ??

When u try to map a drive from windows XP to Linux ??

have u setup a folder and told samba where that folder is ??

and have u given that folder in Linux the correct permission ??

if u setup in linux a folder /export/samba/share make sure samba config file know about it

from XP map drive like so right click my network place select map drive

type the following

\\samba\share

(were samba is netbios name)
it should then ask for username password