I'm using Samba as a file share across a internal LAN. I was happily transferring files yesterday and now today I can no longer see the shared directories, the required directories are still shared in the smb.conf and I have restarted samba a dozen times to no avail. I cannot even see the shared directories if I am on the samba server itself.

How do I run further checks or get more information so I can debug the ****en thing, its really ****ing me off.

My smb.conf

*************************************************8
#
# Sample configuration file for the Samba suite for Debian GNU/Linux.
#
#
# This is the main Samba configuration file. You should read the
# smb.conf(5) manual page in order to understand the options listed
# here. Samba has a huge number of configurable options most of which
[global]

part of
workgroup = ENTERPRISE

; wins support = no

; wins server = w.x.y.z

; name resolve order = lmhosts host wins bcast

interfaces = 127.0.0.0/8 eth0

; bind interfaces only = true



log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m

max log size = 1000

; syslog only = no

syslog = 0

panic action = /usr/share/samba/panic-action %d


; security = user
username map = /etc/samba/smbusers

encrypt passwords = true

passdb backend = tdbsam

obey pam restrictions = yes

; guest account = nobody
invalid users = root

; unix password sync = no

; pam password change = no

; domain logons = yes
; logon path = \\%N\profiles\%U
; logon path = \\%N\%U\profile

; logon drive = H:
; logon home = \\%N\%U


; add user script = /usr/sbin/adduser --quiet --disabled-password --

; include = /home/samba/etc/smb.conf.%m

; message command = /bin/sh -c '/usr/bin/linpopup "%f" "%m" %s; rm %s' &

; domain master = auto

; idmap uid = 10000-20000
; idmap gid = 10000-20000
; template shell = /bin/bash

;[homes]
; comment = Home Directories
; browseable = no

; valid users = %S

; writable = no

; create mask = 0600

; directory mask = 0700

;[netlogon]
; comment = Network Logon Service
; path = /home/samba/netlogon
; guest ok = yes
; writable = no
; share modes = no

;[profiles]
; comment = Users profiles
; path = /home/samba/profiles
; guest ok = no
; browseable = no
; create mask = 0600
; directory mask = 0700

wins support = no
[printers]
comment = All Printers
browseable = no
path = /tmp
printable = yes
public = no
writable = no
create mode = 0700

; write list = root, @ntadmin
[vfat_brendan]
path = /media/vfat
available = yes
browseable = yes
public = yes
writable = no

[public]
comment = Public Folder
path = /home/public
public = yes
writable = no
create mask = 0777
directory mask = 0777
force user = nobody
force group = nogroup
available = no
browseable = no


*************************************************
The logs dont show any errors so I'm lost. ANy help very much appreciated

check if your configuration is allright with syntax with the 'testparm' tool available with samba. do a check with iptables rules. see if you can get some clue.

sometimes (often) I have to explicitly tell konqueror where the SAMBA server is via an IP'd smb address in the address bar before it even recognises such exists. Firefox never recognises smb addresses.

Isn't 127.0.0.1 on lo rather than eth0? Wouldn't that limit samba access to localhost via eth0 only?

There should be a hosts allow section global,

lets everyone on local host and local subnet in.

I believe Otchie1 is right. You are only authorizing your localhost there. You would have to allow other hosts in your net. Now, I'm wondering how did you get it to work before if nothing has changed.