Ok, this is my first post on this forum, or any linux forum for that matter. go easy on my please.

anyway, I built a simple home fileserver on ubuntu with Samba. The network consists of 4 client computers (3 of them laptops, all windows) connected through a DLink DI-624 wireless router. Downloaded samba, tried to install following this guide site:
[will not let me post urls] google bit tech server, and its the 6th page of the first result

I used the config file they provided, and added 3 users to the backend.

I changed the dynamic IP of the server to a static one through a router, connecting at 192.168.0.101.

when I try to connect with it on a windows pc using \\192.168.0.101\homes, it just says that there is no such network path.

any help? first problem I have had while following the guide site.
i can provide more information as needed

thanks,
matt

The first thing to do is determine if you have IP connectivity. This has nothing to do with your samba server configuration.

On a windows system, open a command prompt, and try to ping the server. 'ping 192.168.0.101' ( without the quotes. You need to get a response.

Then from your linux system, ping each windoze system. Then has to work. Post the results, and all the IP addresses you are using.

Post your samba configuration file also. I'm sure we'll need to see it before all the issues are resolved.

2 things:

1) i was able to get a Vista laptop to connect to the fileserver amd transfer files.

2) pinging from other computers works, with both wireless and wired connections


[global]
log file = /var/log/samba.log
passwd chat = *Enter\snew\sUNIX\spassword:* %n\n *Retype\snew\sUNIX\spassword:* %n\n .
socket options = TCP_NODELAY
obey pam restrictions = yes
null passwords = no
encrypt passwords = true
passwd program = /usr/bin/passwd %u
passdb backend = smbpasswd
wins support = no
dns proxy = no
netbios name = "Server"
invalid users = root
workgroup = "SEBEK"
security = user
syslog = 1
panic action = /usr/share/samba/panic-action %d
max log size = 1000
log level = 3
pam password change = no

#Share Definitions

[homes]
comment = Home Directories
browseable = yes
writable = yes
security mask = 0700
create mask = 0700

[Shares]
comment = Samba Shares
path = /home/server/Desktop/Shares
writable = yes

If you can connect with one machine, you are in good shape.

Could you tell me what application you are connecting from in Windoze?

I have always used My Network Places, and clicked on the icons. I just tried the above, in explorer, and I was able to connect from XP home to my server, so I know that can work.

Do you get the User and Password logon prompt? Are you able to log on?

I see you are using security=user, that should require the logon.

Typically homes is special i.e. a share called homes does not actually exist. When samba starts a share for each user is automatically created using their home directory (\home\username) so it is really \\192.168.0.101\username that you want to use and not \\192.168.0.101\homes. Of course I assume you created a regular user. It is usually defined in smb.conf as

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

I suspect that this share is not working since you do not have a valid users line or that the path line is missing.

You can use the console command testparm to test the syntax of your smb.conf file. This will show any errors. There is a web based smb.conf configuration tool called swat if your not wanting to manually make changes to the file. Be sure to restart samba for any new changes to take effect.

See www.samba.org for complete documentation.