Posts Tagged with 'samba'

Samba Team member Andrew Bartlett explores the world of Samba4, its development status, what you can (and can't) do with Samba4, and -- most importantly-- when you can expect to start using Samba4 in a production environment.

The Linux Samba server supports the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol (also known as the Common Internet File System, or CIFS, protocol). Microsoft Windows uses SMB natively to share files and printers. Thus, Samba is most commonly used to turn a Linux box into a file and print server for Windows clients. Indeed, Samba is so effective that Samba enables Linux to sneak into otherwise Windows-domainated shops, with management none the wiser. However, Samba can be employed as much more than a file and print server. Samba supports many configuration options and it can perform a variety of complex tasks.

Samba has been called Linux's stealth weapon -- the killer app that allows Linux to replace Windows file servers. Samba's creator, Andrew Tridgell, talks about the origins of Samba and the future of Open Source.

It's happened. My significant other has finally moved her laptop into my home. She's running Windows 95, however, and wants to connect to my Linux machine to make use of our printer and the larger hard disks. I have both the Applix and StarOffice suites installed, so I can import and export Word and other Microsoft files, which she can use in Windows. Her office PC is able to share disks and printers and files on the company's network, but can we do the same thing on my home network?

Andrew Tridgell's implementation of the SMB protocol allowed Linux to "dance" with Windows, but it wasn't always easy.