I'm running Suse 9.2 with both samba client AND server installed. I used YAST to configure which workgroup I'm in and to tell SMB server to run at startup. However the Windows computer can see the linux box, but the linux box, cant see the Windows computers. I havent a clue whats going on, or why this is so.

I also check with Guarddog, and it is set to allow NETBIOS and SMB for the local internet.

Here is my smb.conf if that helps any

# 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: 2005-04-19
[global]
workgroup = HOME
printing = cups
printcap name = cups
printcap cache time = 750
cups options = raw
printer admin = @ntadmin, root, administrator
map to guest = Bad User
include = /etc/samba/dhcp.conf
logon path = \\%L\profiles\.msprofile
logon home = \\%L\%U\.9xprofile
logon drive = P:
encrypt passwords = yes
ldap idmap suffix = ou=Idmap
ldap machine suffix = ou=Computers
netbios name = Oneniisama
ldap suffix = dc=example,dc=com
security = user
add machine script = /usr/sbin/useradd -c Machine -d /var/lib/nobody -s /bin/false %m$
domain logons = no
domain master = false
local master = yes
os level = 65
preferred master = yes
passdb backend =

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

[profiles]
comment = Network Profiles Service
path = %H
read only = yes
store dos attributes = yes
create mask = 0600
directory mask = 0700

[users]
comment = All users
path = /home
read only = yes
inherit acls = yes
veto files = /aquota.user/groups/shares/

[groups]
comment = All groups
path = /home/groups
read only = yes
inherit acls = yes

[printers]
comment = All Printers
path = /var/tmp
printable = yes
create mask = 0600
browseable = yes

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

Can you access the Windows-box by IP (in konqueror, type smb://<IP>)? Then I would guess it is a name-server problem. You could list your Windows-box in /etc/hosts. Is nmbd (NetBIOS name server) running on you Linux machine? You could also check the firewall settings on both machines.

Can you access the Windows-box by IP (in konqueror, type smb://<IP> )? Then I would guess it is a name-server problem.

Yes I can, however they prompt me for username and password, that is something new.


You could list your Windows-box in /etc/hosts.

Not an option we are on DHCP, and there are MANY Windows boxes.


Is nmbd (NetBIOS name server) running on you Linux machine?

I dont know, how would I check?

Maybe the nmbd port (137) needs to be opened on your firewall.

The longer I think about it, the stranger this appears. Usually it is harder to make the Windows machines see the Samba server. You problem is new to me. Sorry! I would guess it is a Windows-side problem.

user@Oneniisama:~> ps ax | grep nmbd
5597 ? Ss 0:00 /usr/sbin/nmbd -D -s /etc/samba/smb.conf
16829 pts/1 S+ 0:00 grep nmbd

Ok I removed and then reinstalled samba and removed the guarddog firewall and just used teh SUSE config for firewall, and told it to allow samba

new samba confi file now


# version at /usr/share/doc/packages/samba/examples/smb.conf.SUSE
# Date: 2004-10-21
[global]
workgroup = HOME
printing = cups
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:
security = user
encrypt passwords = yes
ldap idmap suffix = ou=Idmap
ldap machine suffix = ou=Computers
ldap suffix = dc=example,dc=com

[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

[pdf]
comment = PDF creator
path = /var/tmp
printable = yes
print command = /usr/bin/smbprngenpdf -J '%J' -c %c -s %s -u '%u' -z %z
create mask = 0600

[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

Problem solved! Rather stupid solution too. Even though the firewall was configured to allow samba sharing, it was still blocking something. I did a search for "unable to find any workgroups in yoru local network" the message you get when you try to browse computer, and it led to SUSE firewall being the cause. Since we're behind a hardened firewall router, I disabled the SUSE firewall and now I can see the windows computers YAY