Greetings all.

I have reinstalled my OS on my file server and tried to cheat by backing up my /etc/samba directory and putting it back. When I put it back, figured out I needed to reinstall/reenable SWAT, and opened it for configuration in SWAT - everything (the "hardcoded" shares) seemed to do well EXCEPT accessing my 'homes' (with a path of '/home/%u') and my printer from my Win box.

I've installed Debian 3.1 r4 and the Samba/SWAT versions that come with that. I am using Windows XP Pro on my workstation. Below are three sections from of smb.conf: one section for a share that is working and the two sections for the shares I am having problems with. Any help would be appreciated.

[common]
path = /home/common
valid users = %u
admin users = gary
read list = %u
write list = %u
read only = No
create mask = 0777
guest ok = Yes
hosts allow = 192.168.2.*

[printers]
comment = All Printers
path = /tmp
printer admin = gary
create mask = 0700
hosts allow = 192.168.2.*
printable = Yes
printing = cups
print command =
lpq command = %p
lprm command =
printer name = merlin
use client driver = Yes
force printername = Yes
browseable = No

[homes]
valid users = %S
admin users = root, %u
read only = No
hosts allow = 192.168.2.*
browseable = No

I decided to give it another shot and I re-copied the files from my old /etc/samba directory to my new install and this is what I've got:

[homes]
valid users = %S
read only = No
browseable = No

So, I'm not sure which of the other lines was fouling things up, but apparently one of them was.

This is a lesson to me as well as all of the n00bs out there - check and double-check your work before you cry out that it's broke. The folks here are more than likely going to help you, but you may not feel so silly over something this simple.

Oh, and K.I.S.S.