Install and Configure Samba on Ubuntu

What Samba does

Samba lets Linux share files and printers with Windows (SMB/CIFS). Features:

• File and printer sharing.
• Authentication and access control.
• Network browsing.
• Domain controller support.
• Support for many file systems.
• Data encryption.
• Command-line tools.

Install Samba

Step 1: Update

sudo apt update

Step 2: Install the packages

sudo apt install samba samba-common

• samba has the main Samba server programs (smbd, nmbd).
• samba-common has common files and tools.

Step 3: Check it

smbd --version

Configure Samba

Step 1: Create a shared folder

mkdir /home/username/sambashare/

Step 2: Edit the Samba configuration

sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

Add this at the end of the file:

[sambashare]
    comment = Samba on Ubuntu
    path = /home/username/sambashare
    read only = no
    browsable = yes

Step 3: Restart Samba

sudo service smbd restart

Step 4: Open the firewall

sudo ufw allow samba

Step 5: Set the permissions

sudo chown -R username:sambashare /home/username/sambashare/

If the group sambashare does not exist, make it first with sudo groupadd sambashare, or use your own group.

Step 6: Create a Samba user

The user must exist on the system. Add a Samba password for it:

sudo smbpasswd -a username

Step 7: Check the configuration

testparm

Connect from Windows

Open File Explorer and type in the address bar:

\\server_ip\sambashare

Enter the Samba user name and password.

Connect from Linux

sudo apt install cifs-utils
sudo mount -t cifs //server_ip/sambashare /mnt -o username=username

Why people use Samba

• It bridges Linux and Windows.
• It is open source and free.
• It has a big community and is very customizable.
• It is reliable, and it fits into existing networks.

Quick recap

• Install samba, create a folder and add a share to smb.conf.
• Add a Samba user with smbpasswd -a.
• Open the firewall and connect with \\server_ip\sambashare.