I've done a lot of research here and all over the internet and I can't find any definitive answers on the proper samba configuration. I have common errors with excel files reporting that the file can be opened only as read only and that the user trying to open the file already has it open. They don't, so the error is illogical. I am now finding we have problems with Cognos files as well. That's my primary concern. My user has no problem opening the file.

Looking at smbstatus, here are the details on the open Cognos file:

DENY_NONE 0x2019f RDWR EXCLUSIVE+BATCH

Unless I am confused, the file is open exclusively by the client with read/write access. However, the client is unable to save the file. The reported error is that the user doesn't have permissions to save the file. The user has full rights to the directory and file.

From what I understand, the error is inconsistent. Sometimes he can save, sometimes he can't. My suspicion is that is must have something to do with file locks, but I can't see what they are. I have made no changes to the default locking parameters of samba. If someone can suggest which ones should be changed to resolved these issue, please do.

Have you double-checked permissions? Given that it's inconsistent, I would suppose you have, but I did want to check.

Permissions are fine. The user can save and work with other files in the same location. Sometimes he can save the files. This is why my suspicion has something to do with file locks.