I have a small workgroup of windows machines (all XP) and have just put togeather a Linux box to use as a fileserver. I am using Red Hat 9 and am using Gnome GUI. I have started the Samba server up and created user names and password that correspond to my workgroup logins. I have also created some shares on the linux box and given "All" permissions. However although when I browse the workgroup I can see a machine (which says SAMBA server) I am unable to see the shares. I get this error message \\Linux is not accessible. You might not have permission to use the network resource. I am convinced that I have done something wrong on setting permissions however I am unable to trace the problem. I am a complete beginner with linux so I am sorry if this is a stupid post!!!

Can you post your smb.conf file and also how did you create the users passwords, with smbpasswd or what?

A common your firewall settings on your redhat box. I've had it happen more than once that it's set to high security, even though during install I had it set to none. Try setting it to none (if you're behind a seperate firewall that is) and then try connecting from the windows box.

(Admittedly I've had this problem every time I set up a samba server running redhat 9, and end up kicking myself after I figure it out)

Trickykid, as a newbie I am really not sure how I would do this?
asp55, I also thought that this might be the issue. I did indeed USE the medium setting on the firewall configuration at the install HOWEVER I have searched everywhere and am not sure change the settings using the GUI front end! Is this possible??

Sry again Trickykid but missed the last part. I set up the shares via the GUI System Settings/Server Settings/Samba Server. On the properties of the share (which is in /home/graham/music) I have set to READ/Write on the basic tab and Allow access to everyone on the Access tab. When I log in as Graham and then look at my Home directory (Graham would also be how I am logged into the windows machine) I notice that the shared directory (ie Music) has a red circle with a red line thru it. When I then look at the properties of this directory it says that it belongs to root however it does say that it can be read by "Owner, Group & Others" so therefore I would have thought the permissions were ok? Does any of this make sense??

gmansfield: what is writen in your redhat /etc/samba/smb.conf file?

v3rb0: This is what is in the config file
[Music]
Path=/home/graham/Music
writeable = yes
comment = Music files
guest ok = yes

Interstingly I have now turned off all the firewall settings and now when I try and browse the Samba server from the windows machine it asks for password and login. I can now see the Music folder but am not allowed to open it to view contents, so I still have an authorisation issue! I THINK!!!! This is like CPM all over again! :-(

To get to the security settings through the GUI on RH9 (as well as 7 and 8...which really is as far back as my experiance goes) go to your
menu:
system settings:
security level

and change it there.

I think in samba config file you need the [global] section where you describe the authetntification mechanism

if yours window boxes are memebers of domain then you can get domain users/passwords for authentification with

[global]
...
security = server
password server = <domain controler ip or name>
...

if your network is p2p then try

[global]
...
security = user
..

and you need to add for samba all users you will allow to connect.

On that note check what user and group the folder belongs to, and compair to the users you do have setup on samba.

asp55: Many thanks have sorted that out now however still cannot browse the share!
v3rbo:
Its a workgroup and this is what I have got in the Global Settings
Workgroup = Home
I don't seem to have any Security=User though HOWEVER what I really want (as the Windows PC's have various logons (for the family) I would rather that the samba shares have open access. I THINK I can set up a guest accout so that I don't have to get the client users to use passwords. Is that the case and if so how or have I got the wrong orry for the delay in responding.

One other point is when I browse the workgroup from any of the windows machine, I can see the Samba machine, If I then try and double click on the Samba server I am requested for a log in. I then log in as me (which is a valid linux login(and the same on the windows machine) and then I see the MUSIC share. BUT if I try and open that folder I don't get permission. The folder belongs to Graham which is the valid login that I have on both the windows machines and Linux box! I have also set all the permission to Read/Write/Execute to Owner, Group and Others.

Have been reading so much on this BUT still can't seem to crack it!

One mighty frustrated newbie!