PUPPY SAMBA as a File Server to Windows PCs on a small LAN

Message

efiguy · #16 Post by **efiguy** » Thu 03 Jun 2010, 14:10

Hi gcmartin,

- If I understand correctly, you have a working Samba on a Knoppix install.

- There is an interesting (seemingly solved) thread here, could it lead to reconstucting the Knoppix Samba components to a simple base Puppy version?

Is there a complete list of kernel modules?
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=56130

- Don't know how far you explored - the freebsd article points to several Linux versions of a Samba download.

- This is a powerful tool technically and psychologically for the advancement of Puppy, imho should exist in Puppy, consider enlisting the forum tech leaders via pm's (off top of the head - Pizzasgood, raffy, MU, and even BK).

- And it just may exist somewhere in archives.

[quote]
sunburnt
Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 2975
Location: AZ
PostPosted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 2:47 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
If this SFS file can be verified to work, I'll add the LanManager GUI, & I'll add options for DHCP & TFTP (on/off) to make it a more flexable server setup.
This server addon for Puppy 2 versions can be just a Samba server,
or just a DHCP server or just a PXE boot server, or any combination of the 3.[/quote]

BK posts in many of these

pnethood - samba share mounter
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... &start=240

How to Get Samba Server Working in Puppy 4
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=36141

Howto: Set up a simple (insecure) Windows compatible network
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=22363

Samba - Network Printer Problems
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=44158

Samba File and Print Services for SMB/CIFS clients
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=46670

PupServer SFS - Testing... Samba & PXE boot.
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... ca0fa1c46b

Search - Samba
http://wellminded.com/puppy/pupsearch.html

Have a better day
Jay

gcmartin · #17 Post by **gcmartin** » Fri 04 Jun 2010, 01:17

Thanks @efiguy.

I a little new so your post is very helpful. The articles you post WERE accurate during their day.

But, it appears that the SAMBA product in Puppy has undergone some sort of a change and does NOT exist in the new systems the way it may have been when those articles were written.

I say this, because the folders are not where there suppose to be. And, I tried to install using the Puppy Package Man and came up with stuff missing. I am still trying to find the time to learn my way around enough to correct this, but kids, wife, job, repairs doesn't leave enough sit down and focus time to resolve this. That's the prime reason for the appeal.

I will (or would have by now) written the manual for Windows Admins to use to insert PUP5/Quirky into their LAN over the last weekend, but I spent the better part of 3 days over the last week trying to get to where I'm at now.

Frankly, until I can get a recent PUP5/Quirky with SAMBA in its libraries, I can't begin to produce the manual. I want to help, but I feel helpless in PUPPY.

Thanks

efiguy · #18 Post by **efiguy** » Fri 04 Jun 2010, 17:20

Hi gcmartin,

I think this file illustrates what you had presumed happened to the configurations and perhaps the time frame. The ever present goal to reduce Puppy size below 100 mb was the Holy Grail, others worked to make full suites of over 200 mb, and a real business useful app was just forgotten.

But wait!!!, there maybe some hope within the file, because many of the texts mention a common puplet, although older than what you were looking for, it may have a stable 301 heritage, certainly worth looking into, especially while your link "Plea" is burried in all the re-distribution of Puppy Goals.

I don't have any disc space or an operating chassis to try it.

This could be a good day

Jay

PS edit:
http://puppylinux.com/news/ - lots of official version differences
300 mentions
smbspool as re-added for 301

[quote]'8-bit' reported that the Samba utility 'smbspool' is required to access a Windows network printer. Well, no, it isn't small, it's 830K, but perhaps this is an important utility to have so I put it in.[/quote]

last blog page that mentions modules was 210 samba-3.0.22

4.00alpha1 to 4.00alpha3 used pnethood as a samba replacement

Muppy-Live-008.4c-EN.iso just may have the samba modules
it was posted by forum member MU http://puppyisos.org/isos/Muppy008.4c/English/Live/
----- 801662976 06.12.08, 22:44
-

BarryK · #19 Post by **BarryK** » Wed 07 Jul 2010, 11:39

gcmartin,
I am not a Samba expert, haven't actually used it, but I have been looking into Samba packages recently, see my blog:

http://bkhome.org/blog/

Note that earlier Samba packages in Puppy had the files in strange locations. I have compiled these latest packages with "normal" paths, in line with most other distros.

I seem to recall there was a little GTK GUI app to edit smb.conf, for setting up a server, but I don't recall it's name.

gcmartin · #20 Post by **gcmartin** » Wed 07 Jul 2010, 15:17

@BarryK ===> Thanks

One of the GUI's you refer to are Webmin which does "Complete Linux Systems Management" via a web interface.

The other GUI is SWAT which focuses on SAMBA to make it simple. This would probably have visibility in Puppy/Quirky Menu---.Setup---"Samba Wizard" (or something like this) if you decide to use it or PET it.

I thank you for foreseeing that consistent Linux directory placement will make all of your future working much easier, not just for SAMBA, but also for CUPS, LDAP, and the litter of other system features that will comprise an operational Puppy/Quirky in the future.

I will post back as soon as I can on whether this allows setting up a folder to be shared via SMB/CIFS for access by my other LAN users, both Linux and Windows.

BarryK · #21 Post by **BarryK** » Thu 08 Jul 2010, 06:04

BarryK wrote:I seem to recall there was a little GTK GUI app to edit smb.conf, for setting up a server, but I don't recall it's name.

Now I recall, two of them. There is a GTK1 app called 'Gtksamba', and a GTK2 app called 'gadmin-samba".

gcmartin · #22 Post by **gcmartin** » Thu 08 Jul 2010, 07:43

That makes 4 to choose from for use in setting up to manage a SAMBA site
Browser Based

Webmin
SWAT

X based

Gtksamba
gadmin-samba

Anyone of them that allows configuring to share a folder from Puppy with the LAN community is a great tool. Choose wisely.
P.S. Like CUPS, SWAT is also "lock-step" with SAMBA. development.

efiguy · #23 Post by **efiguy** » Mon 19 Jul 2010, 20:23

Hi,
Within the last few days, have found many descriptions of Samba problems/solutions with Vista, Win 7, both the Home, n' Pro, and Mac.

Collected some of the better posts into a small link file. I hope it helps.

Keep up the Good work!

Edit: 08-07
- Two recent links Referencing Samba:

Connecting Puppy to a Windows Shared Printer
(BK - listing a Server pet download)
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=57553

TXZ_pup 4.5 ~~ a fork build
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... &start=165
Pgs 11-12

Jay

laszlok53 · #24 Post by **laszlok53** » Wed 11 Jul 2012, 11:07

I see that the thread is about 2 years old, wonder if I can get someone to answer a few questions.

I'm not completely new to Puppy, I use it mainly for system recovery in M$-Windows context an also as a base for RDP connection to remote locations.
But now I'm facing a problem that I'd like solve with the help of Linux, hopefully with Puppy.

I have at customer a Windows 2000 server as a PDC, which is singing the last verses, having more and more problems to keep it alive. I can't move it over to newer hardware, since they do not work with the old system, and will not move over to a newer server from M$, since Windows 2003 -2008 -2011 are unnecessarily complex to the task.
So the idea was to pull up a Linux system with Samba and let it take over the role for login to the DOMAIN, eventually for some file server role as well. (not really necessary, but could be useful).

My problem:
I tried with Ubuntu 12.04, followed diverse instructions in several "how to:s" but always ending up with some error message. Experimenting to come over those always result to crashing the whole system -> new installation -> new error messages. Hours are just running away without getting anywhere.

My humble request:
Is there anybody here at the Puppy Forum to help me, someone I can ask about help when I get stranded?

My basic question: is it possible to set up a system I described above - AT ALL???

Thx in advance

/ Laszlo

(And please, be tolerant to my English, it's not my mother-tongue)

rcrsn51 · #25 Post by **rcrsn51** » Wed 11 Jul 2012, 16:16

Gcmartin is the resident Samba expert and I'm sure that he will eventually reply. But here are some general observations.

1. Many Puppies, like Slacko, now support full Samba as an add-on package.

2. But if you look at their default smb.conf files, you will see that they are configured for simple peer-to-peer file sharing across a home network. Obviously, you are looking for much more.

3. There is a good tutorial here.

4. As a general rule, before you can add a Samba user to a server, s/he must already exist as a Linux user. But the majority of Puppies are single-user only. They may not have the infrastructure needed for your situation.

5. Ubuntu would definitely be a better platform for your task. But if you can't get a Samba PDC running there, I can't see how Puppy would be more successful.

laszlok53 · #26 Post by **laszlok53** » Wed 11 Jul 2012, 18:39

Thank you for the prompt reply!

Maybe some comments to it can shed some more light over my probelems:

rcrsn51 wrote:Gcmartin is the resident Samba expert and I'm sure that he will eventually reply. But here are some general observations.

I hope he turns up, or I can find a way to contact him! I did read some of his comments here, and he surely could be the right person to instruct me.

1. Many Puppies, like Slacko, now support full Samba as an add-on package.

Would you please enlighten me about the differences between the "full" and the .pet based one I can download here? I don't have a clue what that means.

2. But if you look at their default smb.conf files, you will see that they are configured for simple peer-to-peer file sharing across a home network. Obviously, you are looking for much more.

Exactly.

3. There is a good tutorial here.

4. As a general rule, before you can add a Samba user to a server, s/he must already exist as a Linux user. But the majority of Puppies are single-user only. They may not have the infrastructure needed for your situation.

I see. Can't I than just use the useradd command to create a unix user?

5. Ubuntu would definitely be a better platform for your task. But if you can't get a Samba PDC running there, I can't see how Puppy would be more successful.

I tried, and still trying. Yesterday I've got as long as I fell at some right-problem, needed to be "root" - but I can't be that in Ubuntu. I experimented till the whole system got garbled, had to reinstall it.
With Puppy I like that I have the rights to everything.

Again, thank you for replying, and if you have more ideas, useful advices, please, help me with them, they are very much appreciated!

/ Laszlo

rcrsn51 · #27 Post by **rcrsn51** » Wed 11 Jul 2012, 18:48

laszlok53 wrote:Would you please enlighten me about the differences between the "full" and the .pet based one I can download here? I don't have a clue what that means.

If you look in the Slacko repo, you will see a Samba PET. It is a complete build of the latest Samba. There are also cut-down packages around that are fine for home use, but don't apply to your situation. Which PET are you talking about?

I see. Can't I than just use the useradd command to create a unix user?

Probably. But it may not behave like you would expect in a genuine multi-user Linux.

laszlok53 · #28 Post by **laszlok53** » Wed 11 Jul 2012, 20:06

Thank you, I'll try to experiment a little with this Slacko repo you mention here to see how long I get with that. I also gave atry to Ubuntu 12.04 again, followed the instructions I found, got as long as a workstation is seeing the PDC but can not create an account, claiming that the user is not allowed to create a machine account.
On the Ubuntu side I can't give the privilege of SeMachineAccountPrivilege, it gives an error NT_STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED

And there I'm stranded.

Thanks anyway, I might be back with more questions. If anyone has any tips to help me, it would be much appreciated!

/ Laszlo

rcrsn51 wrote:
laszlok53 wrote:Would you please enlighten me about the differences between the "full" and the .pet based one I can download here? I don't have a clue what that means.
If you look in the Slacko repo, you will see a Samba PET. It is a complete build of the latest Samba. There are also cut-down packages around that are fine for home use, but don't apply to your situation. Which PET are you talking about?

I see. Can't I than just use the useradd command to create a unix user?
Probably. But it may not behave like you would expect in a genuine multi-user Linux.

gcmartin · #29 Post by **gcmartin** » Wed 11 Jul 2012, 21:00

laszlok53 wrote:Thank you, I'll try to experiment a little .. Laszlo

Hi @Laszio.

I am trying to follow where you are with the sharing issues you are having.

So, if you don't mind my helping you, let's see if this can help...

FATSLACKO i s a complete OOTB distro that is set to "completely couple your PC on the LAN" so that most (all) of your other LAN users can "see" and access the folder you share FROM FATSlacko.

For what I offer, there is NO INSTALLATION OF ANY SOFTWARE! Just download the FATSlacko ISO and burn a CD/DVD.

One you have the CD/DVD, your ONLY requirement is to do the following:

Before starting, on your Windows PC find its "workgroup name". You need this for using the Puppy I am recommending.
Boot the FATSlacko ISO and insure you select a hostname you can remember on its very first screen.
After the desktop restarts, go to Menu>Network>Samba Simple Server where it will open a Window for simple sharing setup for you.
Fill in the form it provides, do this
- make sure the Workgroup Name matches what you got from your Windows PC (if it doesnt, change it to what Windows is using"
- Make sure that the folder is a existing folder on YOUR system (click the fodler icon to insure it opens to that foldername showing
- Click the checkbox for Max Protocol...
Click Apply and your PC immediately shares on your LAN for other users use.

Now, go back to your Windows PC,open its Network icon and under Microsoft sharing you will see your the FATSlacko PC and the folder it is sharing you will see. When you click on it in Windows, you may get a box to open asking you for the username (root) and password (woofwoof); So entering root and woofwoof appropriately will allow you to see the folder and anything you put in the folder on your Windows PC.

You can see the same from every other PC on your LAN, too.

It doesn't get any easier than this. .... hopefully.

If this works, post back here and we'll assist you with other PUPs you may want to use.

But, understand, FATSlacko's author 01Micko made this so very easy for all of us.

Here to help

laszlok53 · #30 Post by **laszlok53** » Wed 11 Jul 2012, 21:47

Hi Martin

If I don't mind you helping me? Hahaha...

You see I spent the whole weekend on to find a solution to this problem - and still don't even know which way to begin to go on.

Let me describe it from the beginning:
A customer of mine has a domain based system, about 30 workstations, 40-45 people using them (not simultaneously of course), one server out of the domain, that only runs an SQL Server for one application - nothing els.

The domain server, the PDC - Windows 2000 Server - is over 9 years old now, having more and more issues. It has to be replaced before it dies, the customer whole activity is depending on that it has to work, 14 hours a day.

Option 1:
Changing the the HW of the Windows 2000.
Unfortunately, W2K does not work with newer hardware, can't handle the keyboard and the mouse through the USB. I tried it on a few different hardware - no success.
Option 2:
Go over to Windows 2003 - 2008 - 2011.
No good solution, besides the costs, full with completely unnecessary functions, not used but a source of problems. The PDC today does only the login and some file server functions.
Option 3:
Replace the PDC with a Linux unit, with Samba that plays the PDC:s login role and some file residing.

I would like to go for option 3.
I rtied with ubuntu 12.04, installed Samba, made the modifications on the smb.conf as suggested - but when I try to give my administrator account the privilege to create machine ID:s, it says: NT_STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED. And there I don't know how to carry on.

On an other thread I begun to experiment a little with Pupyy as well, since I like the basic idea of it, and it's simplicity. Would really love to use a Puppy distro to solve my problem.

While I'm typing, I'm downloading the FATSLACKO you recommended, and will try if it can do the job for me, since I not only need a fileserver, but a login server to a domain, aka a Primary Domain Controller.
So before I begin to experiment with the FATSLACKO, I'd like to get your opinion: can it be configured so, that even the PDC function of Samba could be implemented?

Grateful for your kind support

/ Laszlo

pemasu · #31 Post by **pemasu** » Wed 11 Jul 2012, 22:08

Sorry about input. I used years ago in NT4 and NT 2000 time sme server as file server and as email server. It was easy to configure, using its browser based management system. The server has no X. I configured it using Putty - ssh connection when I had to do commandline stuff which the browser manager didnt handle. As a server it was good. I wouldnt use it for client tasks, lol...like you use Puppy...but as server it was reliable. And it has PDC - advanced samba properties included.

http://wiki.contribs.org/Main_Page

laszlok53 · #32 Post by **laszlok53** » Thu 12 Jul 2012, 10:07

pemasu wrote:Sorry about input. I used years ago in NT4 and NT 2000 time sme server as file server and as email server. It was easy to configure, using its browser based management system. The server has no X. I configured it using Putty - ssh connection when I had to do commandline stuff which the browser manager didnt handle. As a server it was good. I wouldnt use it for client tasks, lol...like you use Puppy...but as server it was reliable. And it has PDC - advanced samba properties included.

http://wiki.contribs.org/Main_Page

Please don't be sorry, I am grateful for every tips and ideas, and I really find yours interesting, downloaded the SME server and will have a look at it.
Must mention that I'm not a big fan of Red Hat, never learned it to use. But it's never too late to learn, I'm only 59 years old...

In the meantime, I've got the Ubuntu 12.04 to act as a PDC, but still having trouble with understanding the smb.conf. And the whole Ubuntu is unnecessarily complex, rather would like to achieve the same with Puppy.

Hoping Martin gives me a hand.

Thanks

/ Laszlo

rcrsn51 · #33 Post by **rcrsn51** » Thu 12 Jul 2012, 10:36

laszlok53 wrote:In the meantime, I've got the Ubuntu 12.04 to act as a PDC, but still having trouble with understanding the smb.conf. And the whole Ubuntu is unnecessarily complex, rather would like to achieve the same with Puppy.

What happens if you take the smb.conf out of Ubuntu and drop it into FatSlacko?

gcmartin · #34 Post by **gcmartin** » Thu 12 Jul 2012, 22:21

Having done about 100 Windows server in my life, I understand the task you are facing.

Without getting into the nitty-gritty (which, by the way, is VERY important) i have to ask you couple of questions. Please understand that I am not trying to put you on the spot, but, just trying to help.

Umm...where to start in helping you....ummm?

OK. Let's tart with FATSLACKO or LightHouse64 Mariner. This can probably be used for what you want to do, but, right now, there is no existing model that has been developed within the community to do even a "SIMPLE PDC". What I consider a simple PDC is setup such that the server provides authoritative login support of all users and has some minor policy management fo what they can/cant see.

Now that that has been said, the nitty-gritty starts to come into play. ... or pray.

So,let me start by asking "have you ever done a Windows server midgration before?" Because there are quite a number of things that will need to be understood such that the user community will NOT know that the server was ever touched, much less replaced.

And, is the people you are trying to help running a Terminal Server. Because if they are, SAMBA will do NOTHING (excepting printers) to address that community?

There are more questions, but, this is a start to try to understand what will happen as we try to guide you to roll your sleeves to help the people you are trying to help.

There much much more than the simplistic stuff I have just covered.

Herd to help

gcmartin · #35 Post by **gcmartin** » Thu 12 Jul 2012, 22:35

rcrsn51 wrote:What happens if you take the smb.conf out of Ubuntu and drop it into FatSlacko?

What is offered here is valid.

What he is asking, put a little differently is
Were you able to get Ubuntu to serve files and folders as you wanted?
If so, then

copy Ubuntu's smb.conf (/etc/samba/smb.conf) from Ubuntu,
boot FATSlacko and
replace the sbm.conf that you copied from Ubuntu (again /etc/samba/smb.conf in FatSlacko)
open a terminal window and type "testparm"
if you do not see errors then type smbd restart and FATSLacko will share the same stuff that Ubuntu was sharing.

This will ONLY get the system to share. It does NOTHING for users or authentication which will have to be setup separately in FATSlacko.

Even though Ubuntu's version look a little daunting, this smb.conf will work with problem in FATSLacko.

But, to go further, we still need more (many much more) information to be of any real value.

This project is a pioneer effort and its outcome really should be document for home users to authenticate people/persons on their LAN and what they can access.

Here to help.

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