Samba is an open source and most popular widely used program that enables end users to access Linux shared directory from any windows machine on the same network. Samba is also named as a network file system and can be installed on Linux/Unix operating systems. Samba itself is a client/server protocol of SMB ( Server Message Block) and CIFS (Common Internet File System). Using windows smbclient (GUI) or file explorer, end users can connect to Samba server from any windows workstations to access shared files and printers.

This tutorial explains how to setup Samba Server (fileserver) Using tdbsam Backend on RHEL 6.3/6.2/6.1/6/5.8, CentOS 6.3/6.2/6.1/6/5.8 and Fedora 17,16,15,14,13,12 systems and also we will learn how to configure it to share files over the network using SMB protocol, as well as we will see how to create and add system users on samba user’s database.
1. Preliminary Note
We are using RHEL 6.3 system with hostname tecmint with IP address 172.16.25.126.
2. Disable SELinux
First, check whether SELinux is currently enabled or disabled with following command.
# selinuxenabled && echo enabled || echo disabled enabled
In our case, SELinux is currently enabled, so we need to disabled it under RHEL/CentOS/Fedora systems, open file called /etc/selinux/config with your choice of editor. ( Ignore this step, if SELinux is already disabled ).
# vi /etc/selinux/config
And change the line that says SELINUX=enabled to SELINUX=disabled and reboot the system.
# This file controls the state of SELinux on the system. # SELINUX= can take one of these three values: # enforcing - SELinux security policy is enforced. # permissive - SELinux prints warnings instead of enforcing. # disabled - No SELinux policy is loaded. SELINUX=disabled # SELINUXTYPE= can take one of these two values: # targeted - Targeted processes are protected, # mls - Multi Level Security protection. SELINUXTYPE=targeted
3. Rebooting System
Here, we will need to reboot the system to re-lable entire file system in the boot process. This reboot process can take some time, depends on the volume of files.
# init 6
Once the system comes to login prompt, login with root user and start installing Samba package.
3. Installing Samba
We use YUM package manager tool to install Samba packages.
# yum install samba samba-common cups-libs samba-client
4. Configure Samba with tdbsam Backend
Once samba installed successfully, now time to configure it using tdbsam password backend. Open file /etc/samba/smb.conf.
# vi /etc/samba/smb.conf
And check for the following lines in the Standalone Server Options section. This line enables users to login into Samba server.
# ----------------------- Standalone Server Options ------------------------ # # Scurity can be set to user, share(deprecated) or server(deprecated) # # Backend to store user information in. New installations should # use either tdbsam or ldapsam. smbpasswd is available for backwards # compatibility. tdbsam requires no further configuration. security = user passdb backend = tdbsam
5. Creating Samba Share Directory
Now, we will create Samba share directory for sharing files for all users. Run the following commands.
# mkdir -p /home/sambashares/tecmintusers # chown -R root:users /home/sambashares/tecmintusers # chmod -R 775 /home/sambashares/tecmintusers
6. Configuring Samba Share Directory
Add following lines at the bottom of the file /etc/samba/smb.conf.
[tecmintusers] comment = All Users path = /home/sambashares/tecmintusers valid users = @users force group = users create mask = 0660 directory mask = 0771 writable = yes
7. Creating Samba Start-up Links
Create system start-up links for Samaba.
# chkconfig --levels 235 smb on
8. Restarting Samba Server
Now restart Samba server.
# /etc/init.d/smb restart
9. Creating Samba Users
We will create a user called tecmint and set password to it.
# useradd tecmint -m -G users # passwd tecmint
Now add newly created user tecmint to Samba user database and set password for him.
# smbpasswd -a tecmint
This way you can create as many as users you want, just replace the username tecmint with the desired username.
10. Verify Samba Server Share
Verify Samba share directory within Linux system using smbclient package with -L option. It will display list of available samba share directories on the host tecmint.
# smbclient -L tecmint Domain=[MYGROUP] OS=[Unix] Server=[Samba 3.5.10-125.el6] Sharename Type Comment --------- ---- ------- tecmintusers Disk All Users IPC$ IPC IPC Service (Samba Server Version 3.5.10-125.el6) Anonymous login successful Domain=[MYGROUP] OS=[Unix] Server=[Samba 3.5.10-125.el6] Server Comment --------- ------- Workgroup Master --------- -------
Try to login into Samba share directory under Linux system using username as tecmint with password.
# smbclient -L //tecmint/tecmintusers -U tecmint Enter tecmint's password: Domain=[MYGROUP] OS=[Unix] Server=[Samba 3.5.10-125.el6] Sharename Type Comment --------- ---- ------- tecmintusers Disk All Users IPC$ IPC IPC Service (Samba Server Version 3.5.10-125.el6) tecmint Disk Home Directories Domain=[MYGROUP] OS=[Unix] Server=[Samba 3.5.10-125.el6] Server Comment --------- ------- Workgroup Master --------- -------
11. Login to Samba Server from Windows
Now try to login from your Windows system, open Windows Explorer and type the address \\172.16.25.126\tecmint and enter username as tecmint and password, you will see tecmint’s home directory. Refer screenshot below.

Now to share Samba shared directory type address as \\172.16.25.126\tecmintusers. You will see similar to below.

For more information about Samba configuration see the http://www.samba.org/.
smbclient -L tecmint
Enter user’s password:
Connection to tecmint failed (Error NT_STATUS_UNSUCCESSFUL)
am I missing something?
Actually I have configure the samba server but i enter the command smbclient -L //tecmint/tecmintusers -U tecmint then a error message show
Error NT_STATUS_BAD_NETWORK_NAME