want to see different subnets in samba
 

Hi, i've 5 locations, and every location has a "debian installed dhcp / samba server" and "ms windows xp installed clients". Locations are on different subnets.

Location1: 192.168.ab0.15 : dhcp / samba server
Location2: 192.168.ab1.15 : dhcp / samba server
Location3: 192.168.ab2.15 : dhcp / samba server
Location4: 192.168.ab3.15 : dhcp / samba server
Location5: 192.168.ab4.15 : dhcp / samba server

At this configuration of samba i already use, clients can only see the computers which are in same subnet. But i want to do something different.

i want 192.168.ab0.15 to be the master browser and the others local browsers.
And every client must see all others clients which are in different subnets.

For example a user which has an ip like 192.168.ab1.65 can able to see 192.168.ab3.69 in his/her network neighborhood.

i think it's clear.

how can i configure this? at smb.conf? can i do this with swat? any example configuretion file anyone can send me?

best regards ..

is there any one can help me?

I would start by reading the on-line samba docs. In particular, the following chapter discusses cross-subnet browsing. See: Chapter 9: Network Browsing The section labled "What Is Browsing" outlines the smb.conf options you will most likey need to modify.

BTW: Don't forget to modify your DHCP scopes to include:
option netbios-name-servers
option netbios-node-type

The last thing you want is to have your XP boxes netbios-node-type set to broadcast instead of registering with the WINS server. i.e. netbios-node-type=8 (hybrid)

i couldn't solve the problem.
can anyone write his/her smb.conf file's content about this subject.
or a small simulate for 2 locations may be.

..

There are a few steps involved in properly implementing cross-subnet browsing. Based on the contents of your smb.conf files, I think you are trying to achieve the end result without first configuring the basics (prerequisites). With this in mind...

For each subnet:

1) Enable a WINS server (wins support = yes). DO NOT SET: wins server = x.x.x.x in smb.conf.

2) Insure that the WINS server for the subnet wins the master browser election (local master browser = yes in smb.conf). You can deal with the domain master browser and replication between the WINS servers later. Also, see: man nmblookup

3) Modify DHCP scopes so that 1) each XP client registers with the local WINS server, and 2) its netbios node type is set to hybrid (see my previous post). This is the single most important step in cross-subnet browsing. If you do not change the netbios node type of your XP boxes, then your XP boxes will broadcast for the local master browser instead of using (registering with) the WINS server.

4) Test. At this time each XP box should ONLY see the hosts that registered with the WINS server on that subnet. If you properly modifed your DHCP scopes, then "ipconfig /all" should state that the netbios node type of the XP box equal hybrid along with an entry for the WINS server. If it does not, then "do not pass go, do not collect $200" go back to step 3 and fix this problem. Proceeding any further would be a waste of time.

Now repeat each of the above steps for the remaining subnets. Once this is done, then go back to each WINS server and configure it to replicate its registrations with the other WINS servers (remote browse sync)

BTW: The above is based on configuring a WINS server per subnet. You can also simply configure a single WINS server for all subnets. Just modify the DHCP scopes so that all XP boxes register with this single WINS server. The drawback to implementing this method is the browse list is sent to each XP client (network neighborhood) across the router instead of from the local WINS server. If these subnets are separated by a WAN circuit, then based on the number of registrations, the browse list could tie up your WAN circuits with un-necessary traffic.