What is samba ( smb ) ?

Samba is a suite of Unix applications that speak the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. Microsoft Windows operating systems and the OS/2 operating system use SMB to perform client-server networking for file and printer sharing and associated operations. By supporting this protocol, Samba enables computers running Unix to get in on the action, communicating with the same networking protocol as Microsoft Windows and appearing as another Windows system on the network from the perspective of a Windows client. A Samba server offers the following services:

• Share one or more directory trees

• Share one or more Distributed filesystem (Dfs) trees

• Share printers installed on the server among Windows clients on the network

• Assist clients with network browsing

• Authenticate clients logging onto a Windows domain

• Provide or assist with Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) name-server resolution

 The Samba suite also includes client tools that allow users on a Unix system to access folders and printers that Windows systems and Samba servers offer on the network.

Samba is a suite of programs that gives your Linux box the ability to speak SMB (Server Message Block). SMB is the protocol used to implement file sharing and printer services between computers running OS/2, Windows NT, Windows95 and Windows7,8 for Workgroups. The protocol is analogous to a combination of NFS (Network File System), lpd (the standard UNIX printer server) and a distributed authentication framework such as NIS or Kerberos. If you are familiar with Netatalk, Samba does for Windows what Netatalk does for the Macintosh. While running the Samba server programs, your Linux box appears in the “Network Neighborhood” as if it were just another Windows machine. Users of Windows machines can “log into” your Linux server and, depending on the rights they are granted, copy files to and from parts of the UNIX file system, submit print jobs and even send you WinPopup messages. If you use your Linux box in an environment that consists almost completely of Windows NT and Windows95 machines, Samba is an invaluable tool.

The conf file is

"/etc/samba/smb.conf"

and service need to start and stop

"/etc/init.d/smb status"

"/etc/init.d/smb start"

"/etc/init.d/smb stop"

Samba is an important component to seamlessly integrate Linux/Unix Servers and Desktops into Active Directory environments. It can function both as a domain controller or as a regular domain member.

It also allow you to share folder as File Server.

Samba is a suite of utilities that allows your Linux box to share files and other resources, such as printers, with Windows boxes. This chapter describes how you can make your Linux box into a Windows Primary Domain Controller (PDC) or a server for a Windows Workgroup.

Samba is software that can be run on a platform other than Microsoft Windows. Samba uses the TCP/IP protocol that is installed on the host server. When correctly configured, it allows that host to interact with a Microsoft Windows client or server as if it is a Windows file and print server.

SMB, which stands for Server Message Block, is a protocol for sharing files, printers, serial ports, and communications abstractions such as named pipes and mail slots between computers.