SAMBA Newbie Questions
 

Hi - I am a newbie, having just installed Suse Linux v 9.3 on an old Windows Box; I intend to use the box as a FS and primarily serve as a backup server for two laptops the family uses - 'training wheels' for my foray into the world of Linux!
I own two laptops - one an IBook currently running MAC OS v10.3 (Panther), and the other an IBM T42 running Windows XP.
After about 24 hours of puzzling, I was finally able to edit Smb.conf and also to the SMBPASSWD func which allowed both Laptops to see the file server. Hurrah!
Now, a few questions:
a) I am still not sure I understand the difference between NetBIOS, Workgroups, and Computer Names. My windows Laptop is used at my office and as such has already been assigned to a Workgroup (lets call it OFFICE). Is there anyway to have a windows box switch between Workgroups easily?
b) When I was accessing the FS from my Windows box, the Apple laptop was not able to log into the Server - it timed out with an error message (which I did not record for posterity). However, when I shut my laptop down it happily found the FS. Is this normal?
c) Lastly, I note when I login that there are three separate folders each user has access to named groups, users, and profiles. WHy it that and are there any conventions regarding these folders?

Many thanks in advance, and apologies if I haven't described the problem in the detail you are expecting. I hope to improve over time!

With reference to question A

NetBios is Microsoft's name for their filesharing protocol. In the Unix and Macintosh worlds, it is called SMB.
tactileint.com/doc/glos/n.html

Basically no, its not that easy to swap between workgroups easily, and its a common problem with XP on a lot of XP related forums.. there are some utils if you search goodle, but most of them aren't too hot.

Make life easy for yourself, if you use a workgroup called OFFICE wat work then on your linux server at home, in the smb.conf [global] section change the line workgoup to

workgroup = OFFICE

Question B

I've never used SAMBA with a MAc but i wouldn't consider that normal behaviour.. If it was then multi hardware networks would have HUGE problems..

Question C

If there weren't so many conventions, and it was easy to do this, XP would have died years ago, Sorry i'm being sarcastic, i too had loads of problems with Samba, and to remove all those files i got the netlogon section working in smb.conf so that when i login, it maps the drives i need to see, but my Samba box is a domain Controller..

a) These terms are related to networks in general. You can try searching Wikipedia to learn more about networks.

for definitions go to google.com and type in

define:<term>