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How to configure Samba using a graphical interface in Ubuntu

Written by Mel Kham on July 6, 2010. 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

configuration

gui

Mel Kham

Founder of Unixmen, Living in Amsterdam. Am working in my free time to help people to understand the Opensource and to explain them in easy way how to make the fist steps to the the light. Working day and night with my Co-founder Zinovsky to keep this website live even with less resources.

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]
http://www.visionstudiosdesign.com Coady

We are Vision Studios Design. We are a Virginia web design company based out of Harrisonburg. We specialize in web, print, development, virginia mobile apps, harrisonburg graphic design, search engine marketing, virginia search engine optimization, social media, and other traditional forms of harrisonburg marketing and harrisonburg web design. Check out our latest phone app, TextGauge. Make sure to look at our portfolio at http://www.visionstudiosdesign.com
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.
http://profile.yahoo.com/BCQ3RGMHV4RBIBPW6SKZJIROYA Motofixxer

Once you install it with your favorite
package manager it will be listed in your menu as “Samba”.
Some versions you will get an error saying KDEInit
could not launch ‘gksu’ Could not find ‘gksu’ executable.
Don’t worry like I did it’s only a little glitch. Just means you have
to go to a Terminal and type “Sudo system-config-samba”
then enter the root password. I’m sure there is a more complicated
way to fix it…but I don’t know it.

I have used System-Config-Samba
currently on Kubuntu 12.10 Alpha, Linux Mint 13(12.04) and earlier
versions of Kubuntu.
TiredOfTheSameOldLinuxDistros

This doesn’t work, even though I, as a user created the folder, I don’t have permission.

Of course you don’t have a permission problem using your own home folder. Pick a neutral location and share with others. same routine…something failed, so hop on the net, sort thru a few worthless wordy forums and figure out how to gain access using a method thats probably not a best practice.

Give me a root login prompt if thats whats needed. I don’t have time to learn every command and config file. Guide with a short description and default settings that suggest a best practice and maybe pickup a happy customer on the way.

couldn’t the above prompt been explained in an “edit user” gui in place

Fedora 17
on parallels 6.0.???????

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