Samba (SMB) file sharing problems with Ubuntu GNU/Linux

**Matt D** · 04-02-2007, 01:58

I've been trying to share a folder in Ubuntu 6.10 ("Edgy Eft") using Samba (SMB) file sharing, but not had much luck.

It shares perfectly under XP Home (same PC, dual boot).

The PC has the same Workgroup name & computer name under Ubuntu as it does under XP.

I've followed this basic guide:

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Edgy#Samba_Server

...plus Googled around, although only seem to find the same basic info.

I created a new user in Ubuntu on the server PC, solely for the client to log into it as, & added the user to the samba password list.

The client simply will not see the share when the sharing PC is running Ubuntu, yet it's perfect when I boot into XP.

If I disable "Firestarter" iptables firewall in Ubuntu, the client is then able to see the workgroup & the server, but still can't actually see the shared folder. [which is doubly strange, as I added rules to Firestarter to allow the client's IP address & allow samba sharing].

Any ideas?

**Graham M** · 04-02-2007, 02:07

Do you habve a firewall enabled in Windows as that could cause the problems you've described

(sorry iff that doesnt amek sense as iv e just had anight out)

**Matt D** · 04-02-2007, 02:16

I've got ZoneAlarm running when in Windows, but it has the client's IP added to the Trusted Zone, plus it isn't Windows that's the problem - the client won't access the server when the server is running Ubuntu.

**Matt D** · 04-02-2007, 23:31

Anyone?

brundles · 05-02-2007, 01:45

If you try and access the shared directory from a Windows machine using \\shared.machines.ip.addres\share_name what response do you get?

Are the ports open and listening on the Ubuntu machine (ps -ef | grep smb and also netstat -a)?

One other thing I've seen before with Windows shared folders and non-Windows Samba setups is the ports used. Most of the Unix Samba implementations I've seen use the 138/139 NetBIOS ports that Windows used to use. MS have changed to the SMB ports on 445 (I think) which can cause problems. Have a rummage through the settings on the Windows machine you're trying to access the share from and make sure that you have the NetBIOS stuff enabled (check under the WINS tab of advaced TCP/IP settings for your network adapter).

**Matt D** · 06-02-2007, 00:45

Cheers

I'll have another try tomorrow night.

Oh, & the client is actually an Xbox, running Xbox Media Centre...I'm trying to stream my videos over the share...works fine when the server PC is running XP.

If I can't get the sharing to work, I'll prob. try & find a free UPnP Media Server to run on Ubuntu instead.

brundles · 06-02-2007, 11:09

Must admit I've had some problems in the past when using XBMC with Linux -if I remember rightly it turned out to be something to do with the config file on XBMC. Let me know if you still don't have any luck (if it's XBMC as the client the setting the NetBIOS stuff isn't really an option and both should already be on the 138/139 ports) and I'll see if I have a copy of the old config around somewhere.

The Jackal · 06-02-2007, 23:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

Anyone?

Gawwaaaannn then - guest appearance from me.....

Install gsambad via synaptic and set up your shares giving extra attention to the following configs :

Announce this server to : (should be broadcast IP ie 192.168.0.255 etc etc)
Retrieve announcements from : same subnet broadcast address
Allowed hosts : bung 192.168.0. in there
Handle connections from 192.168.0.0/24

**Matt D** · 06-02-2007, 23:52

Thanks again

Haven't had time to try it out again tonight, but will have a look through the XBMC config as well as the Ubuntu settings when I get a chance.

---------- Post added at 23:52 ---------- Previous post was at 23:50 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrC-3rr0r

Gawwaaaannn then - guest appearance from me.....

Install gsambad via synaptic and set up your shares giving extra attention to the following configs :

Announce this server to : (should be broadcast IP ie 192.168.0.255 etc etc)
Retrieve announcements from : same subnet broadcast address
Allowed hosts : bung 192.168.0. in there
Handle connections from 192.168.0.0/24

Cheers

The Jackal · 06-02-2007, 23:54

The gsambad gui made childs play out of hacking smbd.conf and nmb by hand.... I was lazy one night gave it a whirl and it worked first time.

Failing that you can try the old SWAT interface but I found gsambad a lot more user friendly

**Matt D** · 07-02-2007, 00:05

Thanks. The guides I found didn't give a lot of detail about smb.conf etc.

Hopefully between your suggestions & brundles' I'll get this working

[then it'll be one less thing I need XP for lol]