This officially adopted guide by the Samba Team, under the GNU Free Documentation License, serves as a comprehensive resource for Samba administration. The 2nd edition emphasizes Samba 2.2 while also addressing key features of the developing 3.0 version. Samba transforms Unix or Linux systems into file and print servers for Microsoft Windows clients, offering a robust, flexible, fast, and secure alternative to Windows NT/2000/XP. As free software licensed under the GNU General Public License, it enables efficient file and print sharing. The authors explore Windows activities and protocols in-depth, detailing the strengths and weaknesses of features in both Windows domains and Samba. The guide covers everything from basic installation and configuration on various systems to intricate aspects of security, cross-platform compatibility, and resource discovery, ensuring users can navigate smoothly without encountering cryptic error messages. It addresses practical concerns such as integrating Samba's authentication with a Windows PDC, serving Microsoft Dfs shares, and sharing files on Mac OS X, along with a dedicated chapter on troubleshooting. Whether for personal use or enterprise networks, this guide equips system administrators with the knowledge to create an efficient and secure server environment.
