How do I share folders? - Solved

[ElderDryas]

Gaah! Oh dear. No, it isn't part of the default installation. I imported it from elsewhere. I most humbly apologise for being a dick - knome.

Well, maybe you could give him the recipe?

[paul]

Hi all, a strange thing happened to me on my way to the Forum.....
It appears that for some mysterious reason my late model computer with the latest version of Ubuntu no longer shares folders. I am sure it did before, as I clearly recall copying files from one of my Windows XP machines on a number of occasions, but this facility disappeared since some automatic update some time ago (probably a month ago, am not sure), but I just discovered it yesterday. No amount of telling Ubuntu to share a folder now makes any difference.
I therefore propose that this is due to some new feature in the Linux kernel, or that someone has screwed Samba, which is used by both distros.
Interestingly both the Ubuntu machine and the Salix machine now have the same problem. Any declared shares in the smb.conf file are simply ignored.
I will see if I can find Thunar File Manager somewhere, but I am not hopeful this will make any difference.
In the meantime if anyone has any suggestions, they would more than likely apply to both problems; maybe it is simply that the syntax in Samba's smb.conf file for sharing folders has changed.
Some time ago I compiled (with considerable help) a Dosbox version that has the ability to print under Ubuntu, and this also works fine under Salix, so it appears that both distros will run much the same binaries, and probably many other things as well. Paul.

[knome]

@ paul

sqlpython mentioned restarting the Samba service (daemon) but have you checked if it is running after a reboot?

What version of Salix and what desktop manager are you running?

[laprjns]

After extensive goggling I managed to get file sharing working here on my Xfce Salix 14 install. It requires configuring and running samba server along with two thunar Custom Actions.

To set up samba, follow these instuctions:
http://goodies.xfce.org/projects/thunar ... res-plugin.
Scoll down to the "Starting Samba" section and do everything down to and including "Add the samba group to your user" . To restart samba do this as root:

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service restart samba

To add the Custom Actions follow these instuctions:
http://bipedu.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/ ... e-manager/

Note that the samba instructions are essentially the same as what sqlpython posted, but with lower security setting. This method uses samba security level "share" versus the stringent "user" security level.

[paul]

Yes, also had a look in Thunar File Manager (which is obviously the default Salix file manager; I just had not looked properly), but there is no "share" I can see. So any way to bring this about?
And how do I check that Samba is running? Does the fact that I can browse my shared folders on two Windows XP machines through my wifi network from this Salix notebook indicate it is?
I think there is a basic login service problem with Samba, as my Ubuntu machine comes up with an "no authorized access" error if I try to access it from any Windows machines; this is a new problem which I did not have previously; and my Salix machine does not show up on the network on any Windows machines at all.
So any suggestions for a workaround?
Thanks, Paul.

[sqlpython]

Paul
Let's do what I do when I have a Samba issue... "Go Back to Basics"
First as root user open your /etc/samba/smb.conf in an Editor and save as /etc/samba/smb.bak
Then once again as root in an Untitled Clean Empty Editor ..Copy and Paste the smb.conf I posted for you.
And save as /etc/samba/smb.conf.
You will be warned of an Overwrite and save anyway as Yours is preserved as smb.bak.
Now....

Let's see if every thing is in place.. Not that you made an error but I sometimes make a typo or two..
You made each of the commands I instructed in the post via the CLI and if you go back to a terminal and
su
to root user you can check each command via the HISTORY so we can see..
Just as root in a terminal repeatedly press the Up Arrow Key to arrive at the first Command I gave.
which was
export USERSHARES_DIR="/var/lib/samba/usershares"
There were counting the first above Eleven post each so we can see Exactly what you entered.
No point in testing further unless we are sure a before went Exactly correct.

Then type

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ls /etc/samba

So we can check results

Then type

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testparm

and again enter
We can then check the config contents
Lastly,, if all looks good then put the GUI file managers aside and let's check SAMBA from the Command line in a Terminal and type (Exact syntax is required)

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smbclient "\\\localhost\Download" -U paul

if this connects you will be asked for the Password that you created type it in.
And then at the smb: \> Samba prompt type

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ls

to list your Directory.

Should work and then we can look at your FileManager's ability to Share
I used this method on Debian Testing and Debian Unstable as well as Arch, Gentoo & Slackware.
Worked on each Distro so I don't see why if you followed the exact directions you shouldn't get a share.
Post Back..

[sqlpython]

@lprjns
Re: Thunar shares Plugin
Yes, you may have not noticed that suggested that Paul install that very plugin in my first post for Thunar

Install thunar-shares-plugin package if you are using Thunar File Manager.

So, Thanks for posting the link for all.
I actually did not install the link this time in Salix Xfce 14 as I am sharing the only two folders that I intend on sharing. So, my Samba Share Config took care of all.
However it is very handy for those wanting add and remove shares on the fly..

[paul]

Hi all, Firstly I cannot find the Thunar Shares plugin package through Gslapt. So if there is another way to install this please let me know.
Second, I did as explained by knome, and checked every entry made by using the history command while in the root. I cannot see any errors.
I have replaced smb.conf in /etc/samba/ with the exact text given by knome.
I have gone into the root with the terminal and typed the commands given above by knome.
All works OK except for the smbclient "\\\localhost\Downloads" -U paul (this is the directory I am trying to share) and it comes up with "error NT_STATUS_CONNECTION_REFUSED"
I wonder whether there is a conflict in the computer name or I failed to give the machine a name.
Can this be changed without an re-install?
Paul.

[laprjns]

So, Thanks for posting the link for all.
I actually did not install the link this time in Salix Xfce 14 as I am sharing the only two folders that I intend on sharing. So, my Samba Share Config took care of all.
However it is very handy for those wanting add and remove shares on the fly..

Sorry if my posting that link confused everyone. I was not suggesting to install thunar share plugins, but merely to use the Samba Configurations instructions found on that page. There is no thunar share plugin package available for Salix 14.0. I did try building a package using the SLKBUILD and source that is available form the 13.37 repo, but it failed to build due to missing dependencies.
Even if the package would build and install, according to the README file in the source tarball you still have to manually setup Samba per the instructions on that page.

[sqlpython]

@laprjns

Sorry if my posting that link confused everyone.

No confusion here, I got it..

@Paul

For this to work I can only recommend the method that I know to work..
Using @knome's method and smb.conf offering may not work as he pointed out..

EDIT: Please ignore this post. Incorrect information - knome

So, my advise is to follow my script.

If you do I will try to help you.
Many others have used this successfully and told me so.
I believe it Can and Should work for you also but you have to work with me and give me back what I asked for in my previous post to Debug the situation.
So far you have Not.

To begin with I asked for all your entries on the command line but got One.
And with that one I see an error already.

You originally posted which I designed the smb.conf around

"/home/paul/Download"

Yet your recent post says you attempted

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smbclient "\\\localhost\Downloads" -U paul 

Note Download vs. Downloads
So right away we have a syntax problem which is why I wanted you to post all entries.
Only one of your posts can be correct.
This makes the smb.conf incorrect.
The error you got indicates that the probably the path is wrong.
Could be other issues like permissions or password though.

So,
Back to Basics.
Replace the smb.conf with the smb.conf in my post.
Post all the items as requests and maybe we can sort this out.