If you are searching for the answer to the question of how to edit smb.conf in Linux Mint, then you have reached at the perfect site. But first of all, you must know about smb.conf.
The Samba service’s configuration file, smb.conf, enables UNIX and Linux systems to network-share documents and printers with Windows-based clients. The file, which is usually found in the /etc/samba directory, provides several parameters, including network settings, authentication procedures, and share definitions. The smbd daemon reads the file upon startup, and any modifications to the file called for a restart of the Samba service before they take effect.
What exactly is the Samba service?
Samba is an open-source software program that is compatible with Linux and Unix. It mainly serves as native software for interacting with Windows clients. SAMBA does this through the Common Internet File System (CIFS). This article covers the installation and configuration of Samba proxy on Linux Mint 20.
What exactly is Linux mint?
A version called Linux Mint, based on Ubuntu, attempts to offer a conventional desktop environment with many helpful custom tools and optional out-of-the-box multimedia features. It also contains a custom desktop and menu system, various unique customization options, and a web-based program installation mechanism. With Linux Mint, Ubuntu’s software repositories are compatible. In addition to its Ubuntu-based flavor, the project also produces a distinctive “Debian” edition (called LMDE) based on the most recent stable Debian release.
How do you edit smb.conf?
Text editors like vi, nano, or gedit can be used to edit the smb.conf file. You’ll need root or superuser permissions to edit the file.
- Use the su or sudo command to launch a terminal window and log in as root.
- Open the smb.conf file using the nano, vi, or gedit program. For instance: sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
- Make the file changes you want. As it is simple to make errors that can break the Samba setup, be careful to pay close attention to the format and syntax of the file.
- Close the text editor after saving the changes.
- For the changes to take effect, restart the Samba service. You can use the command sudo system ctl restart smbd on computers running Ubuntu and Debian. The command sudo service smb restart can be used on Redhat and Centos-based systems.
Before making any changes, creating a backup of the smb.conf is crucial so that you can quickly revert to an earlier version if something goes wrong.
Additional Guidance for Samba users
Samba allows connections to file-sharing folders on Linux systems from Windows and other clients. It carries out the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. This guide demonstrates how to configure a Fedora workstation as a shared file location that other computers on the local network can access.
Creating Samba file sharing on Linux requires the following actions:
- Install Samba: On computers running Ubuntu, use sudo apt-get install samba. You can run the operation sudo yum install samba on Redhat-based computers.
- Samba configuration requires editing the smb.conf file, which you must do. To modify the file, use a text editor like vi, nano, or gedit. The network settings, authentication procedures, and share definitions are all contained in this file.
- Establish a Samba Account: You must first create a Samba user to access the shares. To create a new Samba user, do the command sudo smbpasswd -a username>.
- Create a Share: You can add a section to the smb.conf file to create a new share. The share’s title, the shared directory’s location, and access should all be listed in this section.
- After making changes to the smb.conf file, you must restart the Samba service to effect the adjustments. You can use the command sudo systemctl restart smbd on computers running Ubuntu and Debian. The command sudo service smb restart can be used on Redhat and Centos-based systems.
- Link to the share: From a Windows computer, use the “Map network drive” to join the share by entering the server IP and share the title. You can also utilize the explorer to connect to the share by typing smb:/server IP>/share name>.
It’s crucial to remember that you should utilize the proper rights settings to limit access to the shares and to restore your smb.conf before making any modifications.