Windows 2003 -------- Linux (RHEL4U6) --------- XP Client (access samba)
(winshare) <---30s---> (smbwinshare) <---30s----> file (200MB)


Hi,
I have recently setup a samba share in my data center.Here are the configuration. I have setup windows 2003 sp2 to host a share folder name "winshare". I have setup another linux system to mount the windows share and export it as samba share name "smbwinshare". In order for all client to access the windows share "winshare", they need to access through the samba share folder "smbwinshare" (Note: samba give me great control to allow certain host to access the folder only).
Here are the test I did :

1. Mount windows share folder and export as samba share name "smbwinshare"
Copy 200MB file from XP client to "smbwinshare" , it take 1 mins to complete

2. share folder directly from linux system ,share folder name "sambasystemlocaldisk"
Copy 200MB file from XP client to "smbwinshare" , it take 30s to complete

Can I know how to improve the network/samba performance so I will get 30s to complete copy 200MB file whenever copy file from XP client to "smbwinshare"?

By the way, if I want to setup a firewall to allow only windows client to access samba share from linux, what should I type in iptables.Hope some one can assists, I am really new to linux stuff.

Thanks.

Windows uses netbisos session service on port 139 to access shared files on a network. You can start my only permitting port 139 to be used by your Samba.
Add the following line on /etc/samba/smb.conf
Then open this port on your iptables.

p.s: this is not the sufficient way of only permitting windows machine to a samba share.