The Samba server is a popular open-source implementation of the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, which allows seamless file and print sharing between Windows and Linux/UNIX systems. Installing and configuring Samba on CentOS 6.2 enables you to create a file server that can be accessed by Windows clients on your network.
In this how-to, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing and configuring Samba server on CentOS 6.2. By the end of this guide, you will have a functional Samba server that allows Windows clients to access shared files and folders.
Step 1: Install Samba
Log in to your CentOS 6.2 server as the root user or a user with sudo privileges.
Open a terminal window.
Update the package manager by running the following command:
sudo yum update
Install the Samba package by running the following command:
sudo yum install samba
Example:
[root@centos62 ~]# yum install samba Loaded plugins: fastestmirror Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile * base: centos.maulvi.net * extras: centos.maulvi.net * updates: centos.maulvi.net Setting up Install Process Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package samba.i686 0:3.5.10-114.el6 will be installed --> Processing Dependency: samba-winbind-clients = 3.5.10-114.el6 for package: samba-3.5.10-114.el6.i686 --> Processing Dependency: samba-common = 3.5.10-114.el6 for package: samba-3.5.10-114.el6.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libtdb.so.1 for package: samba-3.5.10-114.el6.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libcups.so.2 for package: samba-3.5.10-114.el6.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libwbclient.so.0 for package: samba-3.5.10-114.el6.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libtalloc.so.2 for package: samba-3.5.10-114.el6.i686 --> Running transaction check ---> Package cups-libs.i686 1:1.4.2-44.el6 will be installed --> Processing Dependency: libavahi-client.so.3 for package: 1:cups-libs-1.4.2-44.el6.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libtiff.so.3 for package: 1:cups-libs-1.4.2-44.el6.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libjpeg.so.62 for package: 1:cups-libs-1.4.2-44.el6.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libavahi-common.so.3 for package: 1:cups-libs-1.4.2-44.el6.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libpng12.so.0(PNG12_0) for package: 1:cups-libs-1.4.2-44.el6.i686 --> Processing Dependency: libpng12.so.0 for package: 1:cups-libs-1.4.2-44.el6.i686 ---> Package libtalloc.i686 0:2.0.1-1.1.el6 will be installed ---> Package libtdb.i686 0:1.2.1-3.el6 will be installed ---> Package samba-common.i686 0:3.5.10-114.el6 will be installed --> Processing Dependency: /usr/bin/pkg-config for package: samba-common-3.5.10-114.el6.i686 ---> Package samba-winbind-clients.i686 0:3.5.10-114.el6 will be installed --> Running transaction check ---> Package avahi-libs.i686 0:0.6.25-11.el6 will be installed ---> Package libjpeg.i686 0:6b-46.el6 will be installed ---> Package libpng.i686 2:1.2.46-1.el6_1 will be installed ---> Package libtiff.i686 0:3.9.4-1.el6_0.3 will be installed ---> Package pkgconfig.i686 1:0.23-9.1.el6 will be installed --> Finished Dependency Resolution Dependencies Resolved ==================================================================================================== Package Arch Version Repository Size ==================================================================================================== Installing: samba i686 3.5.10-114.el6 CentOS6.2-Repository 5.0 M Installing for dependencies: avahi-libs i686 0.6.25-11.el6 CentOS6.2-Repository 54 k cups-libs i686 1:1.4.2-44.el6 CentOS6.2-Repository 324 k libjpeg i686 6b-46.el6 CentOS6.2-Repository 133 k libpng i686 2:1.2.46-1.el6_1 CentOS6.2-Repository 184 k libtalloc i686 2.0.1-1.1.el6 CentOS6.2-Repository 18 k libtdb i686 1.2.1-3.el6 CentOS6.2-Repository 29 k libtiff i686 3.9.4-1.el6_0.3 CentOS6.2-Repository 338 k pkgconfig i686 1:0.23-9.1.el6 CentOS6.2-Repository 67 k samba-common i686 3.5.10-114.el6 CentOS6.2-Repository 13 M samba-winbind-clients i686 3.5.10-114.el6 CentOS6.2-Repository 1.1 M Transaction Summary ==================================================================================================== Install 11 Package(s) Total download size: 20 M Installed size: 70 M Is this ok [y/N]: y Downloading Packages: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 10 MB/s | 20 MB 00:02 Running rpm_check_debug Running Transaction Test Transaction Test Succeeded Running Transaction Installing : libtalloc-2.0.1-1.1.el6.i686 1/11 Installing : libtdb-1.2.1-3.el6.i686 2/11 Installing : samba-winbind-clients-3.5.10-114.el6.i686 3/11 Installing : libjpeg-6b-46.el6.i686 4/11 Installing : libtiff-3.9.4-1.el6_0.3.i686 5/11 Installing : 2:libpng-1.2.46-1.el6_1.i686 6/11 Installing : 1:pkgconfig-0.23-9.1.el6.i686 7/11 Installing : samba-common-3.5.10-114.el6.i686 8/11 Installing : avahi-libs-0.6.25-11.el6.i686 9/11 Installing : 1:cups-libs-1.4.2-44.el6.i686 10/11 Installing : samba-3.5.10-114.el6.i686 11/11 Installed: samba.i686 0:3.5.10-114.el6 Dependency Installed: avahi-libs.i686 0:0.6.25-11.el6 cups-libs.i686 1:1.4.2-44.el6 libjpeg.i686 0:6b-46.el6 libpng.i686 2:1.2.46-1.el6_1 libtalloc.i686 0:2.0.1-1.1.el6 libtdb.i686 0:1.2.1-3.el6 libtiff.i686 0:3.9.4-1.el6_0.3 pkgconfig.i686 1:0.23-9.1.el6 samba-common.i686 0:3.5.10-114.el6 samba-winbind-clients.i686 0:3.5.10-114.el6 Complete!
Step 2: Configure Samba
Open the Samba configuration file using a text editor. For example, you can use the nano editor:
sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
In the [global] section of the file, add the following lines to set the workgroup and security settings:
workgroup = WORKGROUP security = user
Replace “WORKGROUP” with the appropriate workgroup name used by your Windows clients.
3. Scroll down to the end of the file and add the following section to define a shared directory:
[shared]
comment = Shared Directory
path = /path/to/shared/directory
valid users = @users
browseable = yes
writable = yes
create mask = 0664
directory mask = 0775
Replace “/path/to/shared/directory” with the actual path to the directory you want to share. Modify the other options as per your requirements.
4. Save the changes and exit the text editor.
Step 3: Set up Samba User Accounts
Create a Samba user by running the following command:
sudo smbpasswd -a username
Replace “username” with the desired username for Samba access.
2. Enter a password for the Samba user when prompted.
Repeat the above steps to create additional Samba users if needed.
Step 4: Start and Enable Samba
Start the Samba service by running the following command:
sudo service smb start
Enable the Samba service to start automatically at system boot:
sudo chkconfig smb on
Outcome
Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured Samba server on CentOS 6.2. You now have a functional file server that can be accessed by Windows clients on your network. Users can connect to the shared directory using the Samba username and password you created.
Feel free to comment and suggest any improvements to this guide.
1 Comment
You might want to leave “and configure” out of the title 😉