Samba is an open source binary packages, which is used for file shares between Linux and Windows operating system, 

Samba is one of the most common ways  File sharing in  server. This page covers  how to install and test this package and configure with windows client system.

How to Install:

Install Samba package using apt-get command,

#  apt-get install samba samba-common python-glade2 system-config-samba



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Once the package installed by default can start / stop / restart service with following commands
 
#  service smbd start
smbd start/running, process 25685
#  service smbd status
smbd start/running, process 25685

Just type the follwing command " service smbd " and press TAB button, you can see posibilities 
 
# service smbd
force-reload  reload        restart       start         status        stop

To findout Samba installed location,
 
# whereis samba
samba: /etc/samba /usr/lib/samba /usr/share/samba /usr/share/man/man7/samba.7.gz

The Samba's configuration is stored in the smb.conf. By default locate in /etc/samba/smb.conf
 
How to Configure:

For example you need to set group permission, users, location of files,  IP access.

Share name : thelinuxfaq
Path           : /root/samba        
IP allow      : 192.168.1.100

Create a directory and add few files for testing,
 
# mkdir /root/samba 

Open the smb.conf file,
 
# vim /etc/samba/smb.conf


[global]



## Browsing/Identification ###

# Change this to the workgroup/NT-domain name your Samba server will part of



 workgroup = WORKGROUP

...

...

[thelinuxfaq]



path = /root/samba

browsable = yes

writable = yes

guest ok = yes

read only = no

create mask = 0755

hosts allow = 192.168.1.100

Do you need test your configuration file execute testparm command, If the command is runs correctly you will see  list the loaded services.
 If shows an error message you need to check your configuration file.
 
# testparm


[thelinuxfaq]

    path = /root/samba

    read only = No

    create mask = 0755

    guest ok = Yes

    hosts allow = 192.168.1.100


User Add:

Create a user samba,
 
# useradd samba

Set a samba password of user,
 
# sudo smbpasswd -L -a samba

Test your connection,

smbclinet is helps for test your file sharing,
 
# smbclient //192.168.1.100/thelinuxfaq -U samba


Enter samba's password:

Domain=[WORKGROUP] OS=[Unix] Server=[Samba 3.6.18]

smb: \> ls

  .              D        0  Thu Dec 29 19:30:01 2014

  ..             D        0  Tue Dec 13 16:58:48 2014

image1.jpg       A     7374  Thu Dec 29 19:28:10 2014

testfile.txt     A     8730  Thu Dec 29 19:28:11 2014