Sharing Samba Folders to Windows XP Client

I have actually updated this tutorial already for a newer version of Kubuntu. You can read it here: Kubuntu 8.10 and Samba.

But guess what, nobody with a Samba problem who landed here is taking the time to look. :)

You should. The process is much easier now.

And you can consider the rest of this tutorial - Obsolete.

This is a quick and dirty way to share samba folders to Windows XP.

1. Modify smb.conf in your Kubuntu Linux accordingly. (You can find smb.conf in the etc directory)

/* smb.conf */

[global]
logon drive = p: // Here you can set the drive letter
encrypt passwords = yes

/* To allow only specific hosts who can connect to server below entry is used make sure localhost is added */

hosts allow = IP-address, 127.0.0.1/255.255.255.0

logon home = \\netbiosname\%U // home directories will be mounted as the user logs on.

passwd program = /usr/bin/passwd %u

wins support = yes //Enable the windows support
dns proxy = no

netbios name = wealhtheow //Set the netbiosname

netbios aliases = rch01 //Set the alias, this is optional

unix password sync = No //Sync the unix passwords

logon path = \\rch01\profiles\%U // This will tell the server where to place the home directories

workgroup = rch.uky.edu // Workgroup to be used, all clients should have the same workgroup

os level = 64 // set the OS level

// Below entries are important in order to tell that Samba server is the domain controller
domain logons = yes
pam password change = yes
preferred master = yes
domain master = yes
local master = yes

[homes]
comment = Home Directories
browseable = no
writable = yes
valid users = %S
read only = no
create mode = 0600
directory mode = 0700

logon home = \\rch01\%U // This tells where is the home directory for the user

hide files = /*.pst/

[profiles]
create mode = 0600
directory mode = 0700
path = /home/samba/profiles/
profile acls = yes
read only = no
writable = yes

2. Then follow the instructions in this link http://www.faqs.org/docs/samba/ch03.html
This link is a very lengthy chapter. But some points to remember are:
Your Windows XP user account must have an equivalent user account in Linux.
Example:

mrcoolwong - windows xp user account
mrcoolwong - linux user account

To be able to access the linux samba shared folders, you must login in Windows XP using mrcoolwong.


References:

https://www.ccs.uky.edu/docs/samba.htm
http://www.faqs.org/docs/samba/toc.html
http://www.faqs.org/docs/samba/ch03.html

Some Comments on Daper Drake Installation

As I have mentioned in my previous post, unlike in the previous version of Kubuntu, there is no separate Install CD and Live CD to download. The Live CD is also the installer.

To install Kubuntu Daper Drake
1. Locate the Install icon in the desktop.
2. Click it and the Live CD would begin the installation process.
3. Just fill up the all the prompts and you should be done.

Some comments about the installation process
I have installed Kubuntu on an MSI motherboard and the installation ran smoothly. But today when I installed Kubuntu on an ECS motherboard I encountered some quirks.

First quirk. I could not proceed installing the software on a non empty hard disk. I was hoping to run the software and delete the current partition during the process. But instead I have to put the hard disk as slave to a Windows PC and delete the partition from there.

After that the installation ran smoothly.

Second problem. The network connection did not start immediately. I rebooted my pc and used the Live CD again to see if the connection works there. I rebooted from the hard disk again. I had to reboot twice before the network connection would finally work.

On my other PC , which was newer than this one, I did not have to do anything. Setup worked immediately. But with this one I have to do several test before it worked.

It is common for Linux derivatives to encounter these kinds of quirks on some hardware. The reason for this being, the hardware you might be using might not been fully tested yet by the developers.

Kubuntu Blogger Returns

It's been ages since i last updated this blog. My girlfriend's hard disk got accidentally formatted and I have to lend her my hard disk until we can recover the data.

Anyway, Daper Drake has been released last June. There's a lot of new features for us to explore. Like, the Live CD is now also the installer CD. I remember that I used to download separate ISO images for the Live CD and Installer CD.

There is also request for a tutorial on how to install Warcraft in Kubuntu. I will do my best to find time to write about that and I will also proceed exploring the features of Kubuntu Daper Drake.

Lastly, It's nice to be back.