Install Samba server in Ubuntu 10.10 and ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal

If you want to share files between your Ubuntu and Windows computers, your best option is to use Samba file sharing.

Samba is a free software re-implementation of SMB/CIFS networking protocol, originally developed by Australian Andrew Tridgell. As of version 3, Samba provides file and print services for various Microsoft Windows clients and
can integrate with a Windows Server domain, either as a Primary Domain Controller (PDC) or as a domain member. It can also be part of an Active Directory domain.Samba runs on most Unix and Unix-like systems, such as Linux, Solaris, AIX and the BSD variants, including Apple's Mac OS X Server (which was added to the Mac OS X client in version 10.2). Samba is standard on nearly all distributions of Linux and is commonly included as a basic system service on other Unix-based operating systems as well. Samba is released under the GNU General Public License. The name Samba comes from SMB (Server Message Block), the name of the standard protocol used by the Microsoft Windows network file system.  (Wikipedia)
Here are some other posts that complete this article :
-How do I set permissions to Samba shares?
-Share Ubuntu Home Directories using Samba
-How to configure Samba using a graphical interface in Ubuntu
Lets  start then,
Install  samba  in  Ubuntu   can be  from Gui tool (Software  center  of  from command  line )
First we have to install sambe server, In  the termina type the command  :

sudo apt-get install samba smbfs

Now we  have  for  example  to  share  this directory  /share
lets make  a  configuration of  the samba  share :

#sudo vi /etc/samba/smb.conf

Look for this :

 #
 [global]
 security = USER

And add these lines just bellow security = user see screenshot bellow :

 hosts allow =
 
 [homes]
 comment = Home Directories
 browseable = no
 writable = yes
 
 [share]
 comment = Unixmen File Server
 path = /share/
 force user = samba
 force group = samba
 read only = No
 hosts allow =

Explain : every  user connected to this samba  server can connect directly to his /home/directory
First  add a user (For example: unixmenuser to  the  system, in the terminal type the command :

#sudo  adduser  unixmenuser

root@unixmen-desktop:~# adduser unixmenuser

Output
Adding user `unixmenuser' ...
Adding new group `unixmenuser' (1003) ...
Adding new user `unixmenuser' (1003) with group `unixmenuser' ...
Creating home directory `/home/unixmenuser' ...
Copying files from `/etc/skel' ...
Enter new UNIX password:
Retype new UNIX password:
passwd: password updated successfully
Changing the user information for unixmenuser
Enter the new value, or press ENTER for the default
Full Name []:

now  make  a  samba  password  for  this user    with  :

sudo smbpasswd  -a   unixmenuser

Output
New SMB password:
Retype new SMB password:
Added user unixmenuser.
Now  restart  your  samba  server

sudo /etc/init.d/samba   restart

• Connect   to  Server  using  windows  share    via

Now if you have another computer with windows machine installed, test if it is working:
In your windows go to :
Start  ---->   run    and insert   \\ip or  \\hostname


put your  login and  samba password


Enjoy

Enjoy  and  free   free   to  ask  :)