How to enable file sharing on SLED 10

This document (3759444) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SuSe Linux Enterprise Desktop 10

Situation

Currently, sharing options in the Nautilus file browser are disabled. Normally, to enable sharing, you must run the Windows Domain Membership wizard in Yast. This requires an Active Directory domain to connect to and will not work without one.

To enable sharing without a windows domain requires the Samba server to be configured. Once Samba server is up and running, the sharing option in Nautilus will be available. The following steps will configure the Samba server and enable user level sharing.

Resolution

cp /etc/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.bak

Using your favorite editor, edit the /etc/samba/smb.conf and add the following to theGLOBALsection:

add machine script = /usr/sbin/useradd -c Machine -d /var/lib/nobody -s /bin/false %m$

domain logons = No

domain master = No

netbios name = machine_name

security = user

usershare max shares = 100

Once you are finished, it should look like this: (remember to change the workgroup and netbios name to values that make sense to you.)

[global]

workgroup = SLED10

printing = cups

printcap name = cups

printcap cache time = 750

cups options = raw

map to guest = Bad User

include = /etc/samba/dhcp.conf

logon path = \\%L\profiles\.msprofile

logon home = \\%L\%U\.9xprofile

logon drive = P:

add machine script = /usr/sbin/useradd -c Machine -d /var/lib/nobody -s /bin/false %m$

domain logons = No

domain master = No

netbios name = machine_name

security = user

usershare max shares = 100

Now you must create a location to store the information about your user shares. Create the following directory and give permission to all members of the group "users”

mkdir /var/lib/samba/usershares

chown root:users /var/lib/samba/usershares

chmod 1770 /var/lib/samba/usershares

Start the Samba Server:

rcnmb start

rcsmb start

Configure the desktop with Yast to start these services each time it boots. Use Yast – System – System Services and enable both the nmb and smb services or from a terminal:

chkconfig smb on
chkconfig nmb on

Create local users for any user who will connect to your share.

*note* When sharing a directory, permissions are changed to rwxrwxrwx. This allows all access to the shared directory. If this is not desired, use chmod to change the permissions remembering to allow the desired access to the appropriate user or group. Any changes to the /etc/samba/smb.conf file will require a

rcnmb restart

rcsmb restart

SuSE Firewall will prevent connection to the Samba Server by default. In order for a machine to connect to the Samba Server, an exception in the SuSE Firewall will need to be made. To create the exception launch yast and navigate to Security and Users , then Firewall. Select Allowed Services. Ensure that External Zone is selected. In the section Service to Allow choose Samba Server and press Add. Press Next and then Accept.

Additional Information

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.