Install Samba – Access Linux Partition on Windows

Samba is a SMB/CIFS networking protocol is used for providing file and print services for Microsoft clients. Samba also can be used as part of Active Directory domain. Samba uses TCP/IP protocol for communication.
I am using CentOS 6.3 for below installation instructions, But below steps will also work on CentOS 5 as well.

Step 1: Installing Samba using Yum.

# yum install samba

Sample Output:

Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * epel: mirrors.ustc.edu.cn
 * extras: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * updates: ftp.iitm.ac.in
Setting up Install Process
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package samba.i686 0:3.6.9-151.el6 will be installed
--> Finished Dependency Resolution

Dependencies Resolved

================================================================================
 Package         Arch           Version                    Repository      Size
================================================================================
Installing:
 samba           i686           3.6.9-151.el6              base           5.1 M

Transaction Summary
================================================================================
Install       1 Package(s)

Total download size: 5.1 M
Installed size: 18 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
samba-3.6.9-151.el6.i686.rpm                             | 5.1 MB     00:18
Running rpm_check_debug
Running Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
  Installing : samba-3.6.9-151.el6.i686                                     1/1

Installed:
  samba.i686 0:3.6.9-151.el6

Complete!

Step 2: Create an account for Authentication

Now create a system account for authentication to access samba shares.

# useradd marc
# passwd marc

Also add this account in smbpasswd file to be used by samba authentication.

# smbpasswd -a marc

Step 3: Configure Samba to Share Directory

Now you will required a directory to be access with samba.

# mkdir /opt/shared

Add below entry in Samba configuration file /etc/samba/smb.conf at the bottom.

[publicshare]
comment = Public Stuff
path = /opt/shared
public = yes
writable = yes
valid users = marc
write list = marc

Step 4: Restart Samba Service

Restart smb and nmb services of your system.

# /etc/init.d/smb restart
# /etc/init.d/nmb restart

Step 5: Verify Setup

To test your setup, you need to access shared location from windows system. Go to run windows and type below.

//192.168.1.90/publicshare/

Change ip with your system ip. If will prompt for authentication. To authorize use account created in #2.