i found the program webmin to help me get the samba server up and running. and i can see the samba server on my winxp box. in network neighborhood. but cannot get the folder that i want to share on the network accessabel to my computer. just show's the server won't let me map a drive to the share. did i miss a step any ideas? realy simple setup just want to see if i can setup a samba server testing w/some files. so maybe if you could help me make a simple smb.conf to share w/the network i'd appricate it alot thanks guys.

Samba Configuration files can get a bit complicated depending on what os the clients are using and how secure you want the shares to be.

There are HUNDREDS of configuration options for SAMBA but you will only need to set 20 or 30 of them to get it to work.

I have found WEBMIN to work but if you miss a step or don't understand what all the options mean, then you can find yourself messing around for hours and not getting anywhere.

I am a Newbie at this myself but I have learned a lot (after many frustrating hours) about SAMBA. I have my system working perfectly as a file and print server for 20 MS clients. But I only use the Linux Box as a server.

Please indicate what os is on the client you are trying to access the samba share with and if you just want basic, non-secured access or do you want a secure user or group spacific access.

Paul.

P.S. The smb.conf file is not the only file that needs to be configured if you plan on a secured type of sharing. Users, groups and passwords will also need to be set up.

Let me know the exact message you are getting.

What Windows product are you using?

Are these the only two machines on the network?

Are you running a firewall on the Linux machine?

Please post your smb.conf file so we can have a look at it.

Have you setup for linux file permissions to allow access? Its a common mistake to think that SAMBA write permission take care of all this but they don't. You'll still need to set up the file mode permissions to give the correct access.

Webmin is a great tool by the way! It really helps over-zealous admins from destroying their systems. I find it a great learning tool also. Setup all your config files with Webmin then check out the actual file to see what it wrote.

Check this out:
The Book of Webmin

Thanks guys i really appricate all the help I will post my smb.conf file a bit later we had a power outtage here at work over the weekend fried our remote dial in server i'm rebuilding it right now soo no time to talk but i will be back

In order to see the share on the Linux machine you have to setup a Samba account and an XP account that are the same.

Yeah, after several attempts, I realised that you need accounts on each box with the *same username* in order for samba to allow the sharing of resources between machines.

I found http://dcfonline.sfu.ca/ying/linux/samba/index.html real helpful.