Windows NT and Unix systems have always been intended to coexist in both business and home environments. If we don't want to give up be able to share our files between both systems, we have to resort to protocols that allow both systems to understand each other. This is where it arises Samba and it provides us with mechanisms so that both environments can share their resources.
This little guide will teach you to install and configure Samba on Ubuntu and how the GUI greatly facilitates the configuration of it.
What is Samba
Samba emerged in 1991 when its programmer, Andrew Tridgell, developed a server program that allowed file sharing within a local network based on the particularly unknown DEC protocol, from Digital Pathworks. That application, which would later give rise to the well-known Samba system, had to be renamed from SMB since that name already existed and was owned by another company.
Samba is now a standard where Microsoft itself has come to contribute through various RFCs. But what does Samba really allow us to do:
- Functionalities of a Windows NT server without shelling out the price of a license.
- Provide a common means of file and directory exchange between Windows NT and Unix systems.
- Printer sharing between Windows and Unix clients.
If these aspects have convinced you, keep reading and configure it within your system.
Installing Samba on Ubuntu
Most distributions provide simple mechanisms to implement Samba in the system, by installing packages and some management GUI, but if this task is difficult for you, we provide you with a script that will help you in the work:
sudo apt-get install samba system-config-samba
From this moment, within the section System you will see a samba icon that will allow us, by previously entering the default password of the application, to add new folders to share in our system. The cross icon is used to add folders; the properties button allows us adjust permissions or provide a description to the folder, among other things; and the one in the trash can, as its name suggests, will delete the share (but not the folder).
El proceedings that you should follow is simple, first add a folder to the Samba environment to share and then adjust, through the properties button, the access permission for all users. Although you can fine-tune the parameters to provide security to the system, we recommend that you take a simple route since, after all, Samba seeks sharing without further problems.