Create a CIFS - SAMBA Network Share on Linux

Samba Server

Simple way to create a cifs on debian linux based systems via command line interface (CLI).

1. If not already insttalled, install SAMBA

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install samba

2. Make directory to share

mkdir /home/<the_user_name>/<my_shared_folder>

3. Set User/Password

As samba use own user/password stroed in /etc/samba/smbpasswd, you must users/pass to this file.

sudo smbpasswd -a <the_user_name>

Note : <the_user_name> must have permission to read/write the share location, otherwise use chmod,chown to set permissions.

4. Add samba share to the file "/etc/samba/smb.conf" using vim, nano ...

Note : For the safety, Make a backup of this file

sudo cp /etc/samba/smb.conf ~

sudo vim /etc/samba/smb.conf

Example:

[<folder_name>]

path = /home/<the_user_name>/<my_shared_folder>

valid users = <the_user_name>

read only = no #yes/no

#Example

[share]

    comment = The share folder

    path = /var/www/docker

    browsable = yes

    guest ok = no

    read only = no

    create mask = 0755

5. Restart the samba server

sudo service smbd restart

Samba Client

You can test samba.conf using 'testparm'

To connect to the share, on linux you must use 'smbclient'

Example:

Note : folder_name is the name [<folder_name>] used on smb.conf file

sudo apt-get install smbclient

# List all shares:

smbclient -L //<HOST_IP_OR_NAME>/<folder_name> -U <user_name>

# connect:

smbclient //<HOST_IP_OR_NAME>/<folder_name> -U <user_name>

On Windows, just enter the url on file explorer

\\<HOST_IP_OR_NAME>\<folder_name>\