Samba Setup Guide

Overview

Samba is an open-source software suite that provides file and print services to SMB/CIFS clients. It enables seamless file and printer sharing between Linux/Unix and Windows machines. This guide outlines the process of configuring Samba shares on Windows Server, Rocky Linux, and Ubuntu, as well as mounting these shares across the various platforms.

Environment Information

Below is the environment setup used for this configuration, including the server types and their respective IP addresses for reference:

• Windows SMB Server — Windows Server 2022 → 44.101.0.131
• Rocky Linux SMB Server — Rocky Linux 9.x → 44.101.2.131
• Ubuntu SMB Server — Ubuntu 24.04 → 44.101.4.131

1. Create Samba Shares

1.1 Create SMB Share on Windows Server

1. Open Server Manager
2. Click Manage → Add Roles and Features → Next → Next → Next → Next.
3. Select SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support.
4. Click Next → Install → Close.

Create SMB Folder

1. Open File Explorer → Local Disk (C:) → Right-click → New Folder → Name it var.
2. Right-click var → New Folder → Name it smb.

Create SMB Share

1. Open Server Manager
2. Click File and Storage Services → Shares → Tasks → New Share….
3. Select SMB Share - Quick → Next.
4. Browse to /var/smb, select the folder, and click Next.
5. Enter winsmb as the share name → Next → Next.
6. Click Customize Permissions… → Select Everyone → Edit → Full Control → OK → OK.
7. Click Next → Create → Close.

1.2 Create Samba Share on Rocky Linux

1. Install Samba package:

   sudo dnf install samba samba-client -y

2. Create Samba directory:

   sudo mkdir -p /var/smb
   sudo chmod 777 /var/smb
   sudo chown nobody:nogroup /var/smb

3. Export Samba Share:

   sudo vim /etc/samba/smb.conf

   • Press i to enter insert mode.

   • Add the following lines:

     [rockysmb]
     path = /var/smb
     browsable = yes
     writable = yes
     read only = no
     valid users = jack
     create mask = 0777
     directory mask = 0777

   • Press esc → :wq to save and quit.

4. Allow Samba through the firewall:

   sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=samba
   sudo firewall-cmd --reload

5. Enable and start Samba service:

   sudo systemctl enable smb
   sudo systemctl enable nmb
   sudo systemctl start smb
   sudo systemctl start nmb

6. Create Samba user:

   sudo smbpasswd -a jack
   sudo smbpasswd -e jack

1.3 Create Samba Share on Ubuntu

1. Install Samba package:

   sudo apt install samba -y

2. Create Samba directory:

   sudo mkdir -p /var/smb
   sudo chmod 777 /var/smb
   sudo chown nobody:nogroup /var/smb

3. Export Samba Share:

   sudo vim /etc/samba/smb.conf

   • Press i to enter insert mode.

   • Add the following lines:

     [ubtsmb]
     path = /var/smb
     browsable = yes
     writable = yes
     read only = no
     valid users = jack
     create mask = 0777
     directory mask = 0777

   • Press esc → :wq to save and quit.

4. Enable and start Samba service:

   sudo systemctl enable smbd nmbd
   sudo systemctl start smbd nmbd

5. Create Samba user:

   sudo smbpasswd -a jack
   sudo smbpasswd -e jack

2. Mount Samba Shares

2.1 Mount SMB Shares to Windows

1. Press Windows Key → Type cmd → Open Command Prompt

2. Enter the following commands:

   net use Z:\\44.101.2.131\rockysmb /user:jack [secure password]
   net use Y:\\44.101.4.131\ubtsmb /user:jack [secure password]

2.2 Mount Samba Shares on Rocky Linux

1. Install CIFS utilities:

   sudo dnf install cifs-utils -y

2. Mount Windows Samba share:

   sudo mkdir -p /mnt/windowssamba
   sudo mount -t cifs //44.101.0.131/winsmb /mnt/windowssamba -o username=Administrator,password=[Secure Password]

3. Mount Ubuntu Samba share:

   sudo mkdir -p /mnt/ubtsamba
   sudo mount -t cifs //44.101.4.131/ubtsmb /mnt/ubtsamba -o username=jack,password=[Secure Password]

2.3 Mount Samba Shares on Ubuntu

1. Install CIFS utilities:

   sudo apt install cifs-utils -y

2. Mount Windows Samba share:

   sudo mkdir -p /mnt/windowssamba
   sudo mount -t cifs //44.101.0.131/winsmb /mnt/windowssamba -o username=Administrator,password=[Secure Password]

3. Mount Rocky Samba share:

   sudo mkdir -p /mnt/rockysamba
   sudo mount -t cifs //44.101.2.131/rockysmb /mnt/rockysamba -o username=jack,password=[Secure Password]

3. Verification

To verify the Samba shares are mounted on Windows:

1. Press Windows Key
2. Type File Explorer → Open it
3. Click This PC
4. You should see the newly mapped drives representing the Samba shares.

To verify the Samba shares are mounted on Linux:

df -h | grep smb