First a little theory.

What is Samba?

The protocols used by Windows and Linux to share resources in a network environment, are not compatible at all, Samba words plus words less, acts as an intermediary between these two so that there is compatibility. Samba runs under Linux, and perfectly communicates natively with Windows can share resources and maintain a coexistence of two systems that do not get along.

Samba is a free implementation of the Common Internet Files System or CIFS protocols developed by Microsoft, and Samba is not used only to share resources between Windows and Linux, CIFS and Samba versions. can be found on Mac and Servers dedicated to file management and resources among other systems.

How does Samba work?

Samba among all the programs it has, consists of two very key ones which are smbd and nmbd . Samba's job is to manage 4 basic services:

Archive and printing services.

Authentication and authorization.

Resolution of names.

Service announcement

The file and print services are the main basis of the CIFS protocols, they are provided by smbd , smbd also handles the Authentication and authorization of "share mode" and "user mode". In short, you can protect shared files and services by requiring a password for them.

• The sharing mode is the simplest scheme, you can assign a password to a resource, be it a printer or a file and anyone with the password will have access to the resource.
• The user mode is a more elaborate and manageable scheme, this requires a user and password for each user and can deny access to certain users.

The domain system was previously managed by the Windows NT Domain System, which provided a level of refinement of authentication for CIFS, since only one authentication was needed by the user so that he could have access to all the authorized resources for the. The NT domain server handles this with an authentication server (Do not confuse an NT domain with a Domain Name System (DNS)).

The name resolution and the navigation are managed by nmbd . These two services manage and distribute the list of names NetBios

How to share a folder?

I start from the fact that you already have Samba installed on your computer, also explain it here would be extensive, each Distro manages its own package manager, find out how to install it in the distro you are.

Samba has a configuration file, its path is /etc/samba/smb.conf , this file as it has just been said, has all the Samba configuration, as well as the parameters of each shared folder. at the end of the file you add the following:

[mi recurso Compartido]

comment = nombre de mi carpeta compartida
path = ruta absoluta de la carpeta
browseable = no|yes
guest ok = no|yes
writable = no|yes
valid users = nombre usuario
workgroup = nombre de grupo

• in comment a comment is added to remember which folder or resource is being shared.
• in path the absolute path of the share is set.
• in browseable if it is a yes , it determines whether when accessing shared resources, the folder is displayed, if it is a no , it could only be accessed with the absolute route.
• if guest ok is yes , access to guests is enabled, so that the folder can be accessed without a user, these users would be applied Group permissions others .
• writable determines whether the folder is write or read-only.
• in valid users it is determined that users or group of users have access to recuros, if they are several users, they are separated by a comma, if it is a group, it has an arroba in front of the name (@ group).
• in workgroup the working group is determined, the default is workgroup .

After making the configuration, you must assign a password of access to the resource to the user or users in valid users , this is done as follows in the console of linux as superuser: smbpassword -a nombreusuario .

By the way, you must have running the devils smb and nmb .

This information was taken and translated from Samba Information . Personal opinions are added, so it can fall into subjectivity and errors.