How to install and configure Samba Server on CentOS 7

Samba Server is an open source file sharing server. It allows to access files, folders and printers between Linux server and windows client.
This article describes How to install and configure Samba Server on CentOS 7.

Step 1. Package installation: Run the following command to install packages for Samba Server:

[root@linuxcnf ~]# yum install samba samba-client Loaded plugins: fastestmirror ……………………….. Installed:   samba.x86_64 0:4.9.1-6.el7                                                      samba-client.x86_64 0:4.9.1-6.el7 Dependency Installed:   avahi-libs.x86_64 0:0.6.31-19.el7         cups-libs.x86_64 1:1.6.3-40.el7 ……………………………   samba-common-libs.x86_64 0:4.9.1-6.el7    samba-common-tools.x86_64 0:4.9.1-6.el7    samba-libs.x86_64 0:4.9.1-6.el7 Complete! [root@linuxcnf ~]#

Step 2. Server Configuration: Create a folder and change permission as given below. Add a 

user to access secure Samba Server and set SMB password:

[root@linuxcnf ~]# mkdir -p /home/SambaShare [root@linuxcnf ~]# groupadd smbgroup [root@linuxcnf ~]# useradd –M –s /sbin/nologin –G smbgroup linuxcnf [root@linuxcnf ~]# smbpasswd -a linuxcnf New SMB password: Retype new SMB password: Added user linuxcnf. [root@linuxcnf ~]# [root@linuxcnf ~]# chmod -R 0775 /home/SambaShare [root@linuxcnf ~]# chown -R linuxcnf.smbgroup /home/SambaShare

Modify the samba configuration and add the below contents in the configuration file. Comment

default share sections if not required.

[root@linuxcnf ~]# vi /etc/samba/smb.conf ………………………………… [SambaShare] comment = Samba File Server Share path = /home/SambaShare valid users = @smbgroup guest ok = no writable = yes read only = no browsable = yes

Create a firewall rule to access Samba Services:

[root@linuxcnf ~]# firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=samba success [root@linuxcnf ~]# firewall-cmd --reload success [root@linuxcnf ~]#

Step 3. Start and Enable Services: Run the following to start Samba services and enable on bootup:

[root@linuxcnf ~]# systemctl start smb [root@linuxcnf ~]# systemctl start nmb [root@linuxcnf ~]# systemctl enable smb Created symlink from /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/smb.service to /usr/lib/systemd/system/smb.service. [root@linuxcnf ~]# systemctl enable nmb Created symlink from /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/nmb.service to /usr/lib/systemd/system/nmb.service. [root@linuxcnf ~]#

Step 4. Validation: Browse the server IP address <\\192.168.43.23> on any file browser and the 

following credentials window will open. Enter earlier created credentials to access the Samba 

Shared folder on windows.

[root@linuxcnf ~]# smbclient -L localhost -U linuxcnf Enter SAMBA\linuxcnf's password:         Sharename       Type      Comment         ---------       ----      -------         SambaShare      Disk      Samba File Server Share         IPC$            IPC       IPC Service (Samba 4.9.1) Reconnecting with SMB1 for workgroup listing.         Server               Comment         ---------            -------         Workgroup            Master         ---------            -------         SAMBA                LINUXCNF [root@linuxcnf ~]#

Done!!! Samba share is now accessible.