Need Samba to work RIGHT NOW!? - Open Access smb.conf

"Open Access?? Are you crazy? What about security concerns?!"

Obviously I would not recommend this Samba configuration to anyone BUT home users...and even that is a stretch with today's trojans, viruses and backdoors. If you're only going to share out music, video and pictures like me...well, what's the big deal?

I hate entering passwords at home!...especially after you've been into the wacky tobaccy with your buddies and just want to show off your new MythTV setup and get on with the viewing of "Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke" or "A Clockwork Orange"!

Here's an open configuration for Samba:

(security disclaimer: If you use this configuration file, I'm not liable...etc, etc, blah blah...you know the scoop)

----------------------------------------
/etc/samba/smb.conf
----------------------------------------
[global]

workgroup = MSHOME
server string = %h server (Samba, Ubuntu)
dns proxy = no
log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
max log size = 1000
syslog = 0
panic action = /usr/share/samba/panic-action %d
security = share
encrypt passwords = true
passdb backend = tdbsam
obey pam restrictions = no
guest account = nobody
invalid users = root
passwd program = /usr/bin/passwd %u
passwd chat = *Enter\snew\sUNIX\spassword:* %n\n *Retype\snew\sUNIX\spassword:* %n\n *password\supdated\ssuccessfully* .
socket options = TCP_NODELAY

wins support = no
[printers]
comment = All Printers
browseable = no
path = /tmp
printable = yes
public = no
writable = no
create mode = 0700

[print$]
comment = Printer Drivers
path = /var/lib/samba/printers
browseable = yes
read only = yes
guest ok = no

[video]
path = /mnt/vidmnt/Video
browsable = yes
public = yes
guest ok = yes
guest only = yes
guest account = nobody
writable = yes

[music]
path = /mnt/vidmnt/Music
browsable = yes
public = yes
guest ok = yes
guest only = yes
guest account = nobody
writable = yes

[pictures]
path = /mnt/vidmnt/Pictures/
browsable = yes
public = yes
guest ok = yes
guest only = yes
guest account = nobody
writable = yes
----------------------------------------

This configuration takes into account that your home workgroup is named 'MSHOME'. If you can't browse it from a Windows workstation, this is probably the cause. The TCP_NODELAY has been added to speed up access on your local network.

I believe that most Samba configurations are done through the web interface these days...but I'm more of a Linux command-line purist: I love vi. Not because it's easy...but because it isn't!

This file is available via 'wget' and should work with most distributions:

cd /etc/samba
cp /etc/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.backup.conf
wget http://interslice.dnsalias.com/smb.conf

If you need to restart samba:

'/etc/init.d/samba restart'

Here's the official HOW-TO collection, straight from the horse's mouth:

http://us1.samba.org/samba/docs/man/Samba-HOWTO-Collection/

Andrew.