14.3. Samba Server Types and the smb.conf File

Samba configuration is straightforward. All modifications to Samba are done in the /etc/samba/smb.conf configuration file. Although the default smb.conf file is well documented, it does not address complex topics such as LDAP, Active Directory, and the numerous domain controller implementations.

The following sections describe the different ways a Samba server can be configured. Keep in mind your needs and the changes required to the smb.conf file for a successful configuration.

14.3.1. Stand-alone Server

A stand-alone server can be a workgroup server or a member of a workgroup environment. A stand-alone server is not a domain controller and does not participate in a domain in any way. The following examples include several anonymous share-level security configurations and one user-level security configuration. For more information on share-level and user-level security modes, refer to Section 14.4 Samba Security Modes.

14.3.1.1. Anonymous Read-Only

The following smb.conf file shows a sample configuration needed to implement anonymous read-only file sharing. The security = share parameter makes a share anonymous. Note, security levels for a single Samba server cannot be mixed. The security directive is a global Samba parameter located in the [global] configuration section of the smb.conf file.

[global]
workgroup = DOCS
netbios name = DOCS_SRV
security = share

[data]
comment = Documentation Samba Server
path = /export
read only = Yes
guest only = Yes

14.3.1.2. Anonymous Read/Write

The following smb.conf file shows a sample configuration needed to implement anonymous read/write file sharing. To enable anonymous read/write file sharing, set the read only directive to no. The force user and force group directives are also added to enforce the ownership of any newly placed files specified in the share.

NoteNote
 

Although having an anonymous read/write server is possible, it is not recommended. Any files placed in the share space, regardless of user, are assigned the user/group combination as specified by a generic user (force user) and group (force group) in the smb.conf file.

[global]
workgroup = DOCS
netbios name = DOCS_SRV
security = share

[data]
comment = Data
path = /export
force user = docsbot
force group = users
read only = No
guest ok = Yes

14.3.1.3. Anonymous Print Server

The following smb.conf file shows a sample configuration needed to implement an anonymous print server. Setting browseable to no as shown does not list the printer in Windows Network Neighborhood. Although hidden from browsing, configuring the printer explicitly is possible. By connecting to DOCS_SRV using NetBIOS, the client can have access to the printer if the client is also part of the DOCS workgroup. It is also assumed that the client has the correct local printer driver installed, as the use client driver directive is set to Yes. In this case, the Samba server has no responsibility for sharing printer drivers to the client.

[global]
workgroup = DOCS
netbios name = DOCS_SRV
security = share
printcap name = cups
disable spools= Yes
show add printer wizard = No
printing = cups

[printers]
comment = All Printers
path = /var/spool/samba
guest ok = Yes
printable = Yes
use client driver = Yes
browseable = Yes

14.3.1.4. Secure Read/Write File and Print Server

The following smb.conf file shows a sample configuration needed to implement a secure read/write print server. Setting the security directive to user forces Samba to authenticate client connections. Notice the [homes] share does not have a force user or force group directive as the [public] share does. The [homes] share uses the authenticated user details for any files created as opposed to the force user and force group in [public].

[global]
workgroup = DOCS
netbios name = DOCS_SRV
security = user
printcap name = cups
disable spools = Yes
show add printer wizard = No
printing = cups

[homes]
comment = Home Directories
valid users = %S
read only = No
browseable = No

[public]
comment = Data
path = /export
force user = docsbot
force group = users
guest ok = Yes

[printers]
comment = All Printers
path = /var/spool/samba
printer admin = john, ed, @admins
create mask = 0600
guest ok = Yes
printable = Yes
use client driver = Yes
browseable = Yes

14.3.2. Domain Member Server

A domain member, while similar to a stand-alone server, is logged into a domain controller (either Windows or Samba) and is subject to the domain's security rules. An example of a domain member server would be a departmental server running Samba that has a machine account on the Primary Domain Controller (PDC). All of the department's clients still authenticate with the PDC, and desktop profiles and all network policy files are included. The difference is that the departmental server has the ability to control printer and network shares.

14.3.2.1. Active Directory Domain Member Server

The following smb.conf file shows a sample configuration needed to implement an Active Directory domain member server. In this example, Samba authenticates users for services being run locally but is also a client of the Active Directory. Ensure that your kerberos realm parameter is shown in all caps (for example realm = EXAMPLE.COM). Since Windows 2000/2003 requires Kerberos for Active Directory authentication, the realm directive is required. If Active Directory and Kerberos are running on different servers, the password server directive may be required to help the distinction.

[global]
realm = EXAMPLE.COM
security = ADS
encrypt passwords = yes
# Optional. Use only if Samba cannot determine the Kerberos server automatically.
password server = kerberos.example.com

In order to join a member server to an Active Directory domain, the following steps must be completed:

  • Configuration of the smb.conf file on the member server

  • Configuration of Kerberos, including the /etc/krb5.conf file, on the member server

  • Creation of the machine account on the Active Directory domain server

  • Association of the member server to the Active Directory domain

To create the machine account and join the Windows 2000/2003 Active Directory, Kerberos must first be initialized for the member server wishing to join the Active Directory domain. To create an administrative Kerberos ticket, type the following command as root on the member server:

root# kinit administrator@EXAMPLE.COM

The kinit command is a Kerberos initialization script that references the Active Directory administrator account and Kerberos realm. Since Active Directory requires Kerberos tickets, kinit obtains and caches a Kerberos ticket-granting ticket for client/server authentication. For more information on Kerberos, the /etc/krb5.conf file, and the kinit command, refer to Chapter 19 Kerberos.

To join an Active Directory server (windows1.example.com), type the following command as root on the member server:

root# net ads join -S windows1.example.com -U administrator%password

Since the machine windows1 was automatically found in the corresponding Kerberos realm (the kinit command succeeded), the net command connects to the Active Directory server using its required administrator account and password. This creates the appropriate machine account on the Active Directory and grants permissions to the Samba domain member server to join the domain.

NoteNote
 

Since security = ads and not security = user is used, a local password backend such as smbpasswd is not needed. Older clients that do not support security = ads are authenticated as if security = domain had been set. This change does not affect functionality and allows local users not previously in the domain.

14.3.2.2. Windows NT4-based Domain Member Server

The following smb.conf file shows a sample configuration needed to implement a Windows NT4-based domain member server. Becoming a member server of an NT4-based domain is similar to connecting to an Active Directory. The main difference is NT4-based domains do not use Kerberos in their authentication method, making the smb.conf file simpler. In this instance, the Samba member server serves as a pass through to the NT4-based domain server.

[global]
workgroup = DOCS
netbios name = DOCS_SRV
security = domain

[homes]
comment = Home Directories
valid users = %S
read only = No
browseable = No

[public]
comment = Data
path = /export
force user = docsbot
force group = users
guest ok = Yes

Having Samba as a domain member server can be useful in many situations. There are times where the Samba server can have other uses besides file and printer sharing. It may be beneficial to make Samba a domain member server in instances where Linux-only applications are required for use in the domain environment. Administrators appreciate keeping track of all machines in the domain, even if not Windows-based. In the event the Windows-based server hardware is deprecated, it is quite easy to modify the smb.conf file to convert the server to a Samba-based PDC. If Windows NT-based servers are upgraded to Windows 2000/2003, the smb.conf file is easily modifiable to incorporate the infrastructure change to Active Directory if needed.

ImportantImportant
 

After configuring the smb.conf file, join the domain before starting Samba by typing the following command as root:

root# net rpc join -U administrator%password

Note that the -S option, which specifies the domain server hostname, does not need to be stated in the net rpc join command. Samba uses the hostname specified by the workgroup directive in the smb.conf file instead of it being stated explicitly.

14.3.3. Domain Controller

A domain controller in Windows NT is functionally similar to a Network Information Service (NIS) server in a Linux environment. Domain controllers and NIS servers both host user/group information databases as well as related services. Domain controllers are mainly used for security, including the authentication of users accessing domain resources. The service that maintains the user/group database integrity is called the Security Account Manager (SAM). The SAM database is stored differently between Windows and Linux Samba-based systems, therefore SAM replication cannot be achieved and platforms cannot be mixed in a PDC/BDC environment.

In a Samba environment, there can be only one PDC and zero or more BDCs.

ImportantImportant
 

Samba cannot exist in a mixed Samba/Windows domain controller environment (Samba cannot be a BDC of a Windows PDC or vice versa). Alternatively, Samba PDCs and BDCs can coexist.

14.3.3.1. Primary Domain Controller (PDC) using tdbsam

The simplest and most common implementation of a Samba PDC uses the tdbsam password database backend. Planned to replace the aging smbpasswd backend, tdbsam has numerous improvements that are explained in more detail in Section 14.5 Samba Account Information Databases. The passdb backend directive controls which backend is to be used for the PDC.

[global]
workgroup = DOCS
netbios name = DOCS_SRV 
passdb backend = tdbsam
security = user
add user script = /usr/sbin/useradd -m %u
delete user script = /usr/sbin/userdel -r %u
add group script = /usr/sbin/groupadd %g 
delete group script = /usr/sbin/groupdel %g 
add user to group script = /usr/sbin/usermod -G %g %u
add machine script = \
 /usr/sbin/useradd -s /bin/false -d /dev/null \
 -g machines %u
# The following specifies the default logon script 
# Per user logon scripts can be specified in the user
# account using pdbedit
logon script = logon.bat
# This sets the default profile path.
# Set per user paths with pdbedit
logon path = \\%L\Profiles\%U
logon drive = H:
logon home = \\%L\%U
domain logons = Yes
os level = 35
preferred master = Yes
domain master = Yes
idmap uid = 15000-20000
idmap gid = 15000-20000

[homes]
comment = Home Directories
valid users = %S
read only = No
browseable = No
writable = Yes

[public]
comment = Data
path = /export
force user = docsbot
force group = users
guest ok = Yes

[netlogon]
comment = Network Logon Service
path = /var/lib/samba/netlogon/scripts
admin users = ed, john, sam
guest ok = No
browseable = No
writable = No

# For profiles to work, create a user directory under the
# path shown. mkdir -p /var/lib/samba/profiles/john
[Profiles]
comment = Roaming Profile Share
path = /var/lib/samba/profiles
read only = No
browseable = No
guest ok = Yes
profile acls = Yes

# Other resource shares
...
...

NoteNote
 

If you need more than one domain controller or have more than 250 users, do not use a tdbsam authentication backend. LDAP is recommended in these cases.

14.3.3.2. Primary Domain Controller (PDC) using LDAP

The most powerful and versatile implementation of a Samba PDC is its ability to have an LDAP password backend. LDAP is highly scalable. LDAP database servers can be used for redundancy and fail-over by replicating to a Samba BDC. Groups of LDAP PDCs and BDCs with load balancing are ideal for an enterprise environment. On the other hand, LDAP configurations are inherently complex to setup and maintain. If SSL is to be incorporated with LDAP, the complexity instantly multiplies. Even so, with careful and precise planning, LDAP is an ideal solution for enterprise environments.

Note the passdb backend directive as well as specific LDAP suffix specifications. Although the Samba configuration for LDAP is straightforward, the installation of OpenLDAP is not trivial. LDAP should be installed and configured before any Samba configuration. Also notice that Samba and LDAP do not need to be on the same server to function. It is highly recommended to separate the two in an enterprise environment.

[global] 
workgroup = DOCS
netbios name = DOCS_SRV 
passdb backend = ldapsam:ldap://ldap.example.com
username map = /etc/samba/smbusers
security = user
add user script = /usr/sbin/useradd -m %u
delete user script = /usr/sbin/userdel -r %u
add group script = /usr/sbin/groupadd %g 
delete group script = /usr/sbin/groupdel %g 
add user to group script = /usr/sbin/usermod -G %g %u
add machine script = \
 /usr/sbin/useradd -s /bin/false -d /dev/null \
 -g machines %u
# The following specifies the default logon script 
# Per user logon scripts can be specified in the
# user account using pdbedit
logon script = scripts\logon.bat
# This sets the default profile path.
# Set per user paths with pdbedit
logon path = \\%L\Profiles\%U
logon drive = H:
logon home = \\%L\%U
domain logons = Yes
os level = 35
preferred master = Yes
domain master = Yes
ldap suffix = dc=example,dc=com
ldap machine suffix = ou=People
ldap user suffix = ou=People
ldap group suffix = ou=Group
ldap idmap suffix = ou=People
ldap admin dn = cn=Manager
ldap ssl = no
ldap passwd sync = yes
idmap uid = 15000-20000
idmap gid = 15000-20000
...

# Other resource shares
...
...

NoteNote
 

Implementing LDAP in this smb.conf file assumes that a working LDAP server has been successfully installed on ldap.example.com.

14.3.3.3. Backup Domain Controller (BDC) using LDAP

A BDC is an integral part of any enterprise Samba/LDAP solution. The smb.conf files between the PDC and BDC are virtually identical except for the domain master directive. Make sure the PDC has a value of Yes and the BDC has a value of No. If you have multiple BDCs for a PDC, the os level directive is useful in setting the BDC election priority. The higher the value, the higher the server priority for connecting clients.

NoteNote
 

A BDC can either use the LDAP database of the PDC or have its own LDAP database. This example uses the LDAP database of the PDC as seen in the passdb backend directive.

[global] workgroup = DOCS
netbios name = DOCS_SRV2
passdb backend = ldapsam:ldap://ldap.example.com
username map = /etc/samba/smbusers
security = user
add user script = /usr/sbin/useradd -m %u
delete user script = /usr/sbin/userdel -r %u
add group script = /usr/sbin/groupadd %g 
delete group script = /usr/sbin/groupdel %g 
add user to group script = /usr/sbin/usermod -G %g %u
add machine script = \
 /usr/sbin/useradd -s /bin/false -d /dev/null \
 -g machines %u
# The following specifies the default logon script 
# Per user logon scripts can be specified in the
# user account using pdbedit
logon script = scripts\logon.bat
# This sets the default profile path.
# Set per user paths with pdbedit
logon path = \\%L\Profiles\%U
logon drive = H:
logon home = \\%L\%U
domain logons = Yes
os level = 35
preferred master = Yes
domain master = No
ldap suffix = dc=example,dc=com
ldap machine suffix = ou=People
ldap user suffix = ou=People
ldap group suffix = ou=Group
ldap idmap suffix = ou=People
ldap admin dn = cn=Manager
ldap ssl = no
ldap passwd sync = yes
idmap uid = 15000-20000
idmap gid = 15000-20000
...

# Other resource shares
...
...

14.3.3.4. Primary Domain Controller (PDC) with Active Directory

Although it is possible for Samba to be a member of an Active Directory, it is not possible for Samba to operate as an Active Directory domain controller.