Samba is an open source software suite that allows file and print services to be shared between Windows and Unix/Linux machines on a network. It runs on Unix/Linux servers but provides services that Windows clients can access as if they were connecting to a Windows file/print server. Samba allows directories and printers to be shared across platforms, supports user authentication, and enables interoperability between Windows, Unix/Linux, and Macintosh networks using the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol.

1. Your details here

2. What is SAMBA?
• Samba is an extremely useful networking tool
for anyone who has both Windows and Unix
systems on his network. Running on a Unix
system, it allows Windows to share files and
printers on the Unix host, and it also allows
Unix users to access resources shared by
Windows systems.

3. Samba is an...
• an open source software suite
• file and print services to SMB/CIFS clients-
Windows boxes
• runs on UNIX platforms, but speaks to
Windows clients like a native.

4. What does it do?
• 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

5. What can SAMBA be used for?
• You don't want to pay for—or can't afford—a full-
fledged Windows server, yet you still need the
functionality that one provides.
• The Client Access Licenses (CALs) that Microsoft
requires for each Windows client to access a Windows
server are unaffordable.
• You want to provide a common area for data or user
directories to transition from a Windows server to a
Unix one, or vice versa.
• You want to share printers among Windows and Unix
workstations.
• (contd…)

6. • You are supporting a group of computer users
who have a mixture of Windows and Unix
computers.
• You want to integrate Unix and Windows
authentication, maintaining a single database of
user accounts that works with both systems.
• You want to network Unix, Windows, Macintosh
(OS X), and other systems using a single protocol.

7. • The SMB daemon also handles ``share mode''
and ``user mode'' authentication and
authorization to protect shared file and print
services with passwords.
Share Mode - Single password assigned to a
directory or share
User Mode - Each user has a
username/password and admin can grant or
deny access on an individual basis

8. • Sharing files and print services:
• Example of directory or file share:
• [jacksdir]
• comment = Jack’s remote source code directory
• path = usr/local/src
• valid users = tackett
• browseable = yes
• public = no
• writeable = yes
•
• Example of printer sharing:
• [vals_lp]
• print ok =yes
• printer name = lp_mine
• path = /home/everyone
• valid users = valerie, @devel
• browseable = yes