Using Samba: A File and Print Server for Heterogeneous Networks

by Peter Kelly, David Collier-Brown, Perry Donham

This book, which has been officially adopted by the Samba team under an open content license, is a comprehensive guide to Samba administration, including such recent additions as integration with Windows NT domains and the SWAT graphic configuration tool.

Samba is a cross-platform triumph: it turns a Unix or Linux system into a file and print server for Microsoft Windows network clients. Now you can let users store their files (and even important executables) in a single place for easy sharing and backup, protected by Unix or NT security mechanisms, and still offer such transparent access that PC users don't even realize they're going to another system. The magic behind Samba is that it recognizes and speaks the SMB protocol developed by Microsoft for file and printer sharing on its own systems.

Basic Samba configuration is simple, but you'll want to make sure your security settings are just right and find out about the full range of options (how do you like your filenames mangled?). Trouble-shooting, security, connectivity, performance, and logging are thoroughly covered with examples in this book.

Samba is so robust, flexible, and secure that many people are choosing it over Windows NT for their file and print services. Furthermore, Samba is proving to be a necessity for the many organizations that have an existing Unix or Linux system and want to tie in PCs running Microsoft software. Samba is also open source software, licensed under the GNU General Public License.

The authors present the most common configurations and problems in an easy-to-follow manner, along with instructions for getting the most out of Samba. Whether you're playing on one note or a full three-octave range, this book will give you an efficient and secure server. The included CD-ROM holds sources and ready-to-install binaries, plus other useful information.

Genres: Technical, Reference, Computers, Computer Science, Nonfiction, Technology

398 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1999

About the author

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Reviews

[Richard Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great reference manual which I used quiet a lot. It this book wasn't on my desk, it was in the Server Room. I used it so I could setup Samba Servers on Linux, and mapping Windows Computers to it just like a Windows Server, thus saving the University lots of money on license fees for more Windows Server. It's very good giving all the details of how to set it up, security, rights, long and short names. A must for any Network or Server Manager.

[TK Keanini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book on Samba. The configurations details might be out of date but the concepts are still the same. This and a few man pages should do the trick.

[Whitney Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written introduction to the Samba system.

[Al Lustie]

Not useful to me, but could be useful to others.