Samba on a windows xp home workgroup
 

What is the best way to configure samba so it works well as a file server on a win xp home workgroup?
What are the steps I need to take?
Do I need to create a linux account, then a samba account with the same username and password and then a win xp username with the same password?
Can I set up a share that everyone can access without a password?
Or do I need to create a share and add all users to a group and give that group access to the share?

Sorry.....but I`m such a :newbie:
Please help!

home network win/linux
 

HOWto - set up home network with winXPpro and Debian Linux (Mepis flavor)
here is my (/etc/samba/samba.conf) file
;*******************section global*****************
[global]

# Do something sensible when Samba crashes: mail the admin a backtrace
panic action = /usr/share/samba/panic-action %d
printing = cups
printcap name = /etc/printcap
load printers = yes
security = user
workgroup = MSHOME
netbios name = mepis1
server string = %h server (Samba %v)
hosts allow = 192.168.0. 192.168.1. 192.168.2. 127.
smb passwd file = /etc/samba/smbpasswd
socket options = IPTOS_LOWDELAY TCP_NODELAY SO_SNDBUF=4096 SO_RCVBUF=4096
encrypt passwords = true
passdb backend = smbpasswd guest
dns proxy = no
max log size = 1000
;*******************section vince*****************
[vince]
comment = /home/vince
path = /home/vince
public = yes
guest ok = yes
writeable = yes
;*******************section homes*****************
[homes]
comment = Home Directories
browseable = yes
writable = yes
;*******************section printers*****************
[printers]
comment = All Printers
path = /tmp
browseable = yes
printable = yes
writable = yes
guest ok = yes
create mode = 0700
print command = lpr -P %p -o raw %s -r



First connect the two computers with a cat5 ethernet "crossover cable" or as in my case connect each computer via cat5 ethernet "straight" cables to a d-link home cable router.

Go to linux box (/etc/samba) and edit the samba.conf file to reflect your workgroup name (MSHOME),
insert your computer NETBIOS name (mepis1) etc., and
edit the line "passdb backend=" to "passdb backend=smbpasswd guest".

Then, set up a user account named "guest".
Use the smbpasswd command in a root console to add the guest user name to the samba password file using the option for no password. (# smbpasswd -a guest)

I think that covers everything I did to get it working, but one still has to enter the "guest" user name in that popup dialog box.

To set up home network (two computers networked - Mepis 11-25-2003 and XPpro). I edited the samba.conf file and set the smbpasswd command (# smbpasswd -a guest) . Now I can ping my XP box with ( # ping 192.168.0.162) but cannot ping with (# ping ATHLON700) the name of the XP box. I have checked the computer name in (control panel- system) and it is ATHLON700 (capitals).
I can ping from the XP box (c:\> ping 192.168.0.149 or ping mepis1) and it works fine. I can even view and copy files on my Mepis box from the XP box and I can use the Mepis printer from the XP box. I had to turn the Guardwall Mepis firewall off to do any of the above. What am I missing? I have tried to set the smbmount but cannot as Mepis box does not recognize ATHLON700 box.

I hope this gets a beginner started, but I stil have lots to learn.
Vince LaPorte
vlaporte@charter.net