Samba and SMB/CIFS

Abstract

Chapter 1 introduced the SMB/CIFS protocol in general terms, with only occasional references to Samba specifically. This chapter looks more closely at Samba as an example of an SMB/CIFS implementation. This chapter starts with an overview of Samba’s history because this information can help in understanding why Samba works as it does. The next topic is a close look at the differences between Unix and Windows in file metadata requirements because so many Samba options relate to these differences. Password authentication also presents challenges for bridging the gap between Unix and SMB/CIFS, so that topic is up next. As a Unix server, Samba runs as daemons, so an examination of the Samba daemons and their functions is a critical topic. Following in the Unix tradition, Samba uses text-mode configuration files, and knowing where to look for these files and understanding their basic formats is critical for configuring and using Samba. This chapter concludes with a look at running Samba on a few non-Unix systems.