what is microsoft-ds?
 

When I do a netstat -l I get this in the output:

tcp 0 0 *:microsoft-ds *:* LISTEN

what is that? Should I be worried? I have a firewall up that block all but a few ports coming in but allows all outgoing connections.

This is a SMB port. Are you running Samba?

I would say he/she is running Windows. microsoft-ds is directory services (or netbios I believe)

Yes I am running Samba. No I am running Slack 9.1. I read it was some sort of vulnerability for Windows but I didn't understand why I had it. If it is a Samba thing then it makes sense.

Samba allows linux systems to support windows file sharing (CIFS/SMB) clients. The windows implementation of this protocol has experienced a number of security problems recently, however SAMBA does not use the same microsoft code and is therefore not vulnerable to these windows exploits.

However if you are not actively using SAMBA, it should be turned off. If you are using SAMBA, it should not be exposed to the internet and should be protected by a firewall unless it is absolutely necessary to do otherwise.

I am using so the friends in my dorm can print to my printer. The school firewall blocks all traffic on the Windows networking ports.

this is so students don't share mp3 files...........LOL
you can blame this on the RIAA for sure..........

I enable cups for windows clients to print. I would not enable samba for it.

look at your /etc/services file. there it attaches a name to a service port. You can edit it and call it whatever you want. That said, it's like has been already posted, it's Samba. If you need it, no worries.

As for printing from the previous post, how do you let other machines print via CUPS without Samba? Didn't know that was possible.

I am also intrigued. I didn't think there was a CUPS for Windows.

I think he meant that he uses CUPS to allow his Windows clients to print on the network to the printer. CUPS probably runs on his *nix system. The name says it all: Common UNIX Printing System. I still think you need Samba though. I could be wrong.....

Side note: I finally got the girlfriend completely off my box and using her PowerBook all thanks to CUPS/Samba!!!