We've set up some simple, low-security samba shares using a dedicated file server. I can modify the contents of the directories from windows, but not from linux (unless I'm logged in as root). I'm sure it has something to do with ownership or permissions. Here's part of samba.conf:

[global]
workgroup = certs
security = share
wins support = yes
load printers = yes
printing = cups
printcap name = cups

[bus_files]
comment = business files
path = /data/bus
read only = no
force user = bus
force group = bus
browseable = yes
guest ok = yes
nt acl support = no

Before this setup, we were sharing all the business files off the fastest desktop we had. Now we've at least got a file server. As we become more adept in working with Linux, we'll increase security. Right now, though, we just need it to work; our business is suffering. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

After doing some more looking around, I found out I can modify them if I access them by browsing to them. I can't modify anything in them if I access them by using the mount points created in fstab.

//server/bus /home/bus smbfs username=default,password=default 0 0

Thanks ...

When your accessing the files over the network samba is the one who is controlling the permissions and access, sort of given root previliges over the shares defined in the smb.conf. When you access the same folders from being logged in locally or through a console like ssh, you will then be controlled by the unix permissions, completely removed from samba.

Also, the owner/group is bus. Is this what you're logging into Samba as? Your security is set to by the share's permissions on the files, so that's something to take a look at, so in your fstab entry, you need "username=bus,password=(mypasswordhere)"

I thought that's what the forceuser = bus and forcegroup = bus options were for, to make sure no problems like this came up. Is there another option we can add to samba.conf so that we can avoid putting a password in fstab?

Thanks for the help.

Not to sound stupid, but did you check the permissions of the mount point?

Woops. . .I was thinking of the create masks.

http://us1.samba.org/samba/docs/man/...html#id2578536
That may be able to help you better then.

Yes, I did check permissions of the mount point. It doesn't sound too stupid - the obvious things are usually overlooked.

Thanks for the link.