smbd is a server that can provide most SMB services. The server provides filespace and printer services to clients using the SMB protocol. This is compatible with the LanManager protocol, and can service LanManager clients.
An extensive description of the services that the server can provide is given in the man page for the configuration file controlling the attributes of those services (see smb.conf(5)). This man page will not describe the services, but will concentrate on the administrative aspects of running the server.
Please note that there are significant security implications to running this server, and smb.conf(5) should be regarded as mandatory reading before proceeding with installation.
A session is created whenever a client requests one. Each client gets a copy of the server for each session. This copy then services all connections made by the client during that session. When all connections from its client are are closed, the copy of the server for that client terminates.
The configuration file is automatically reloaded if it changes. You can force a reload by sending a SIGHUP to the server.
By default, the server will NOT operate as a daemon.
-a
-d debuglevel
debuglevel is an integer from 0 to 5.
The default value if this parameter is not specified is zero.
The higher this value, the more detail will be logged to the log files about the activities of the server. At level 0, only critical errors and serious warnings will be logged. Level 1 is a reasonable level for day to day running - it generates a small amount of information about operations carried out.
Levels above 1 will generate considerable amounts of log data, and should only be used when investigating a problem. Levels above 3 are designed for use only by developers and generate HUGE amounts of log data, most of which is extremely cryptic.
-l log file
The default base name is specified at compile time.
The base name is used to generate actual log file names. For example, if the name specified was "log", the following files would be used for log data:
log.in (containing inbound transaction data)
log.out (containing outbound transaction data)
The log files generated are never removed by the server.
-O socket options
See the socket options section of smb.conf(5) for details
port number is a positive integer value.
The default value if this parameter is not specified is 139.
This number is the port number that will be used when making connections to the server from client software. The standard (well-known) port number for the server is 139, hence the default. If you wish to run the server as an ordinary user rather than as root, most systems will require you to use a port number greater than 1024 - ask your system administrator for help if you are in this situation.
This parameter is not normally specified except in the above situation.
-s configuration file
The file specified contains the configuration details required by the server. The information in this file includes server-specific information such as what printcap file to use, as well as descriptions of all the services that the server is to provide. See smb.conf(5) for more information.
/etc/inetd.conf
/etc/rc
If running the server as a daemon at startup, this file will need to contain an appropriate startup sequence for the server. See the section "INSTALLATION" below.
/etc/services
/usr/local/samba/lib/smb.conf
On some systems smbd cannot change uid back to root after a setuid() call. Such systems are called "trapdoor" uid systems. If you have such a system, you will be unable to connect from a client (such as a PC) as two different users at once. Attempts to connect the second user will result in "access denied" or similar.
PRINTER
It is recommended that the server software be installed under the /usr/local/samba hierarchy, in a directory readable by all, writeable only by root. The server program itself should be executable by all, as users may wish to run the server themselves (in which case it will of course run with their privileges). The server should NOT be setuid. On some systems it may be worthwhile to make smbd setgid to an empty group. This is because some systems may have a security hole where daemon processes that become a user can be attached to with a debugger. Making the smbd file setgid to an empty group may prevent this hole from being exploited. This security hole and the suggested fix has only been confirmed on Linux at the time this was written. It is possible that this hole only exists in Linux, as testing on other systems has thus far shown them to be immune.
The server log files should be put in a directory readable and writable only by root, as the log files may contain sensitive information.
The configuration file should be placed in a directory readable and writable only by root, as the configuration file controls security for the services offered by the server. The configuration file can be made readable by all if desired, but this is not necessary for correct operation of the server and is not recommended. A sample configuration file "smb.conf.sample" is supplied with the source to the server - this may be renamed to "smb.conf" and modified to suit your needs.
The remaining notes will assume the following:
smb.conf (the configuration file) installed in /usr/local/samba/lib
log files stored in /var/adm/smblogs
The server may be run either as a daemon by users or at startup, or it may be run from a meta-daemon such as inetd upon request. If run as a daemon, the server will always be ready, so starting sessions will be faster. If run from a meta-daemon some memory will be saved and utilities such as the tcpd TCP-wrapper may be used for extra security.
When you've decided, continue with either "RUNNING THE SERVER AS A DAEMON" or "RUNNING THE SERVER ON REQUEST".
Any user can run the server as a daemon (execute permissions permitting, of course). This is useful for testing purposes, and may even be useful as a temporary substitute for something like ftp. When run this way, however, the server will only have the privileges of the user who ran it.
To ensure that the server is run as a daemon whenever the machine is started, and to ensure that it runs as root so that it can serve multiple clients, you will need to modify the system startup files. Wherever appropriate (for example, in /etc/rc), insert the following line, substituting port number, log file location, configuration file location and debug level as desired:
(The above should appear in your initialisation script as a single line. Depending on your terminal characteristics, it may not appear that way in this man page. If the above appears as more than one line, please treat any newlines or indentation as a single space or TAB character.)
If the options used at compile time are appropriate for your system, all parameters except the desired debug level and -D may be omitted. See the section "OPTIONS" above.
You will probably want to set up the name server nmbd at the same time as smbd - refer to the man page nmbd(8).
First, ensure that a port is configured in the file /etc/services. The well-known port 139 should be used if possible, though any port may be used.
Ensure that a line similar to the following is in /etc/services:
Note for NIS/YP users - you may need to rebuild the NIS service maps rather than alter your local /etc/services file.
Next, put a suitable line in the file /etc/inetd.conf (in the unlikely event that you are using a meta-daemon other than inetd, you are on your own). Note that the first item in this line matches the service name in /etc/services. Substitute appropriate values for your system in this line (see inetd(8)):
(The above should appear in /etc/inetd.conf as a single line. Depending on your terminal characteristics, it may not appear that way in this man page. If the above appears as more than one line, please treat any newlines or indentation as a single space or TAB character.)
Note that there is no need to specify a port number here, even if you are using a non-standard port number.
Lastly, edit the configuration file to provide suitable services. To start with, the following two services should be all you need:
[printers]
This will allow you to connect to your home directory and print to any printer supported by the host (user privileges permitting).
If your machine's name is "fred" and your name is "mary", you should now be able to connect to the service "\\fred\mary".
To properly test and experiment with the server, we recommend using the smbclient program (see smbclient(1)).
Most diagnostics issued by the server are logged in a specified log file. The log file name is specified at compile time, but may be overridden on the command line.
The number and nature of diagnostics available depends on the debug level used by the server. If you have problems, set the debug level to 3 and peruse the log files.
Most messages are reasonably self-explanatory. Unfortunately, at time of creation of this man page the source code is still too fluid to warrant describing each and every diagnostic. At this stage your best bet is still to grep the source code and inspect the conditions that gave rise to the diagnostics you are seeing.
See smb.conf(5) for a full list of contributors and details on how to submit bug reports, comments etc.