File sharing setup

[Lucio M Nicolosi]

On Thu, Dec 30, 2010 at 9:22 PM, Bill Stanley <bstanle at wowway.com> wrote:
>
> I now am able to share the document directory on computer two (the computer
> that had the ping problem) and access files on computer one. Computer two is
> now acting as a server.  However this is not exactly what I want. I want
> computer one to be the server since it is newer, faster and has a much
> larger hard drive.
>
> What is happening is this.  Smbfs has been installed on both computers.
> When I try yo set file sharing on the documents directory I get an error.
>
> 1. I click on places/home folder.  (it opens correctly)
> 2. I right-click on the documents folder and I choose the
>   "Sharing Options" item.
> 3. A dialog box opens (titled Folder Sharing) and I check the
>   "Share this folder" item.
> 4. I check the item saying "Allow others to create..."
>
> At this point everything seems OK.
>
> 5. I choose "Create Share" and I get an error.
>
> The line saying Share name  Documents now is displayed
> in red and and an error the message saying
>
> Failed to execute child process
> "testparm" (no such file or directory.
>
> I tried the same with other directories and even tried
> creating a guest account and I get the same error.
>
> The directory definitely exists and has files in it.
> I thought the permissions were wrong but they appear to be correct.
> they are...
>
> Owner            bill
> Folder access    Create and delete files
> file access      --    NOTE: I tried to change this item and
>                       can't because it is a folder?
>
> The same permissions are set for GROUP and OTHERS.
>
> In short I have partial success but I can't make the new computer
> (comp one) the server.


Presuming you've already installed samba on the server-to-be (sudo
apt-get install samba)...

There's a useful app called system-config-samba (available at
repositories) that might help you to configure the samba server and
shares. (sudo apt-get install system-config-samba)

Check if the elected Samba users belong to the group "sambashare" at
"system-administration-users and groups"

If needed, change ownership of the folder to be shared: "sudo chown -R
bill:bill [folder]" providing "bill" is your username.

Then share the folder (you actually own) (create a share) at
nautilus-[folder]-[right click]-shares and then go to permissions and
"Apply Permissions to Enclosed Files". (just like you did, I guess)

Remember to run "sudo service smbd restart" on a terminal after any
reboot since printer shares are not automatically enabled after a boot
(Samba/Cups bug at Maverick, at least)

Regarding smbfs, since it is:

" (The) package (that) provides wrapper utilities for compatibility
with the old "smbfs" filesystem type: smbmount, smbumount, and
mount.smbfs."

I don't really know why it would be needed on a new Samba install.

L.


-- 
L M Nicolosi, Eng.
Ubuntu AMD64
GNU-Linux Regist. User #481505 - http://counter.li.org/