Enbaling Samba on Linux

Problem

How to enbale Samba on a Linux system.

Analysis

This setup was made on a Mandriva system.

Solution

You need basically three things:

1. Install Samba services
2. Setup Samba services
3. Configure your firewall

Then you just need to restart Samba and firewall and you are set.

Installing Samba

In Mandrake install Samba easy:

# urpmi samba-common
# urpmi samba-server
# urpmi samba-client

Edit your Samba config file

Set at least the following in /etc/samba/smb.conf :

workgroup = <YOUR_WORKGROUP_NAME>
netbios name = <YOUR_NETBIOS_NAME>

Configure firewall

For Shorewall you add to your /etc/shorewall/rules file this:

...
ACCEPT  net     fw      udp     137:139,445   -
ACCEPT  net     fw      tcp      137:139,445   -
...

This will enable SMB and NMB related ports. What are these ports for? Check your /etc/services file and you will see:

...
netbios-ns      137/tcp                         # NETBIOS Name Service
netbios-ns      137/udp
netbios-dgm     138/tcp                         # NETBIOS Datagram Service
netbios-dgm     138/udp
netbios-ssn     139/tcp                         # NETBIOS session service
netbios-ssn     139/udp

...
microsoft-ds    445/tcp
microsoft-ds    445/udp
...

Restart services

# service shorewall restart
# service smb restart

References

none