Configuring SAMBA
From MEPIS Documentation Wiki
Configuring shared folders with samba
Note: If Samba (SMB4K) does NOT show up in the 'systray' (e.g. if you stop it manually), then you will need to re-START it, via: 'kmenu>internet>connection>samba' Once you (re)start it, it will stay on systray (and should remain there across system-reboots), unless you quit it manually.
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Method 1: the old-school command line way
Your samba configuration is stored in /etc/samba/smb.conf. Check out the man page for smb.conf for details. Be sure to run testparm after you configure to make sure your config is good, and restart samba to activate the new config.
Method 2: the KDE File Sharing configuration tool
To configure samba so that you can simply right-click on a folder and share (a la Windows):
- Run
- MEPIS 6.5: KMenu --> System --> System Configuration (Settings) --> Internet & Network --> File sharing
- MEPIS 7.0: KMenu --> Control Center --> Internet & Network --> File sharing
- Click the "Administrator mode" button and enter your root password
- Select "Advanced sharing", and make sure the "use samba" option is checked.
- Click "Allowed users". If you're the only user of the machine, select "all users". Otherwise, specifiy the users you want to give this power to.
- Click "OK" to close the users window, then "Apply" on the main window.
You can also set up shares directly in the box below, by specifying a folder, or go into advanced options for the server once you've created the share.
Method 3: the KDE samba configuration tool
This is another KDE tool located in the "Internet & Network" folder of Settings. You must run this as root.
It's pretty thorough, and mostly self-explanatory. This is probably the best tool for those new to samba who want to set up a serious samba server.
Method 4: Webmin
If you're going to be setting up a serious "headless server" (instead of just simple sharing from the desktop), you should read up on samba at Samba.org. Webmin also has a plugin for samba administration, if you have advanced configuration needs.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Always remember that folder security settings apply for samba as well. If the user account you log in with through Samba doesn't have rights to the folder locally, you won't over Samba either.
- To set up an "open share" with no security, you need to consider the following:
- Samba needs to be in "share mode". This emulates windows98-style sharing, with no user-security.
- The shared folder and it's subfolders need full rights for everyone (777).
- The share you configure should be designated public, browseable, writeable, and available. Depending on the config tool you choose, this will be done different ways.
