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How to configure Samba using a graphical interface in Ubuntu

Written by pirat9 on . Posted in Linux tutorials, Ubuntu

One of the most asked features for Samba is a graphical user interface to help with configuration and management,  there are now several GUI interfaces to Samba available, one of these tools is samba server configuration tool.

“The Samba Server Configuration Tool is a graphical interface for managing Samba shares, users, and basic server settings. It modifies the configuration files in the /etc/samba/ directory. Any changes to these files not made using the application are preserved.”

In our previous post we showed you how to configure samba via command line, today we will see together how to configure samba using a graphical interface in Ubuntu

Installing Samba:

First thing we need to do is to install samba, go to Software center in Ubuntu and search for samba then install the package. If you want to install it via terminal then copy this command :

sudo apt-get  install  samba samba-common

Installing Samba Server configuration Tool:

Now install the graphical interface System-config samba

sudo apt-get install system-config-samba

Configuration of samba using a graphical interface:

Now we will try for example to share the directory  /home/pirat9/share folder to do that,

First open GUI samba  server configuration tool by going to System–> Administration–>Samba

Add the  folder you want to share and setup the permissions access.

Now  right click on the  folder directory you want to share and open the  share  options

Then select share this folder

If you want to setup folder access permissions, right click on the folder and open properties (See screenshot bellow)

If you want to add a password to the user: open a terminal and type the command  :

sudo  smbpasswd  -a pirat9

and  then type your password.

Now the configuration is done.

Now lets try to check if we can for example connect from a windows machine. To do that

In a windows machine go to start –>Run and type :

 \ip  or  \hostname

You will be asked to insert the user and password

Check the  share  folder

And is done.

For questions please refer to our Q/A forum at : http://ask.unixmen.com

  • Me2

    I\’m sorry but there is something fundamentally wrong with your flow.

    There are two completely different methods of using Samba to share folders and you\’re using both on the same folder:

    Classic-shares = system-config-samba
    This will create a share definition at /etc/samba/smb.conf

    Nautilus-share ( or usershares ) = Nautilus > \”Sharing Options\”
    This will create a share definition at /var/lib/samba/usershares

    I don\’t recommend that people use the same method at the same time on the same target directory since they may get out of sync with one another.

    There is one other note I\’d like to make. Your sharing options dialog box has \”guest access\” disabled. To fix that you need to add the following line to your smb.conf file: \”usershare allow guests = Yes\”

  • http://thirdpipe.com johnmc

    A useful technique for controlling samba but I find it interesting that you make no mention of using SWAT, another graphical tool to managing Samba. Having paid the price to load samba to disk, why not use SWAT rather than clutter the disk with yet another tool?

    But I appreciate the review none the less. Good overview.

  • Horacio

    Ubuntu 10.10:
    I got an error message from Samba Server configuration Tool.
    But I could fix it installing also this package:
    [b]
    sudo apt-get install samba-common-bin[/b]

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  • helmut

    I am running Ubuntu 11 as guest on VirtualBox with an iMac being the host. I installed the Samba configuration tool as you suggested. In my case, the tool is located in System. When I double click the icon, it requests my password.I supply my password, however, nothing happens afterward.

    Any suggestion what might be weong?

  • Routh

    System–> Administration–>Samba doesnt exist….
    Samba Server Configuration the same Doesnt exist…
    I can open installed Samba but still nothing happens… With manualy settings in config doesnt work, in GADMIN-SAMBA doesnt work.
    Ubuntu cant access Windows network and Widnows cant see Ubuntu in the WORKGROUP. Shared folders are set. Another W7 in network works fine, just Ubuntu is still bugged and there is no simply solution to solve this problem. I made everything from all guides and still nothing. Thx for HELP.