Install Samba file server for Windows

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1. Note

26/2/2023: Trash folder added.

28/7/2022: Correct the positions of two statements. "gedit" changed to "nano" in case non gui interface is used.

7/5/2019: Slight adjustments. "gksudo gedit" changed to "sudo gedit" as Ubuntu 18.04 dropped "gksudo".

25/12/2014: First created.

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2. Intro

Samba file server enables specified directories to be accessible by Windows computers on the same network.

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3. Install

Install the package​s:​

$ sudo apt update 
$ sudo apt install samba
$ sudo apt install samba-vfs-modules

samba-vfs-modules is used to enable Trash folder.

(vsf-modules added, 26/2/2023)

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4. Define a workgroup

Edit the config file:

$ sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

​​​​​Define workgroup name as "kctcl" in the "[global]" section:

workgroup = kctcl

Uncomment to restrict access to server users only:

security = user

Add the following if OpenVPN used:

hosts allow = 192.168.0. 10.8.0. 127.0.0.

(added. 7/5/2019):

Put the last two statements under the "[global]" section after "Networking" instead of at the end, otherwise "security = user" will apply to the last shared directory causing it to be non-assessible. 

(added, 28/7/2022)

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5. Define directories to be shared

Add a section at the end to share directories:

[<sub-directory name or other short name>] 
pth = /<directory name>/<sub-directory name> 
browseable = yes 
guest ok = yes 
read only = no 
create mask = 0775
directory mask = 0775 
# do not include the next two lines if access is restricted to the owning user (added 7 May 2019)
force user = nobody 
force group = nogroup
# Enable Trash folder, KCTang 18/1/2023
vfs object = recycle
# Specify a folder relative to the path above
# Do not specify absolute path unless the path is outside the path above
# The folder will be created automatically upon first deletion
# Hidden folder (prefixed with '.') not used
# Use %U if want to record the user name, not used KCTang 26/2/2023
#recycle:repository = Trash/%U
recycle:repository = Trash
# Mode permits all users to delete
recycle:directory_mode = 0775
# Change last accessed time when moved to the Trash folder
recycle:touch = yes
# Keep modified time
recycle:touch_mtime = no
# Keep folder tree
recycle:keeptree = yes
# Files of the same name deleted will be kept with newer deleted file named as "Copy # of ..."
recycle:versions = yes
# Exclusions
recycle.exclude = *.tmp, ~*, thumb.db

(Trash folder added, 26/2/2023)

Create the directory to be shared, if not already existing:

$ sudo mkdir -p /<directory name>/<sub-directory name>

Change ownership of the directory:

$ sudo chown nobody:nogroup /<directory name>/<sub-directory name>

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6. Start service

Start or restart Samba service whenever the config file is changed:

$ sudo systemctl restart smbd nmbd

or, if ".service" is not automatically appended when executing the above command:

$ sudo systemctl restart smbd.service nmbd.service

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7. Define Crontab

Define crontab to delete Samba Trash files older than 30 days:

$ crontab -e

Edit to include:

#Delete Samba Trash files folder than 30 days
0 0 * * * /usr/bin/find /kctcl/Trash -type f -atime +30 -delete

(added, 26/2/2023)

 

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