Creating and Configuring CIFS Shares
The Common Internet File System (CIFS) is the standard way that computer users share files across corporate intranets and the Internet. It provides users with seamless file and print interoperability between VMs and Windows-based clients. CIFS allows multiple clients to access and update the same file while preventing conflicts by providing file sharing and file locking.
Buurst's SoftNAS uses Samba Windows File Sharing for secured, stable and fast file sharing and print services. It allows the networking of Microsoft Windows®, Linux, UNIX, and other operating systems together, enabling access to Windows-based file and printer shares. Samba seamlessly integrates Linux/Unix Servers and Desktops into Active Directory environments using the winbind daemon.
Covered in this document:
- 1 1. Shared Files Grid
- 2 2. Selecting All Shares
- 3 4. Creating a New File Share
- 4 5. Creating a New Printer Share
- 5 6. Creating a New Copy
- 6 7. Viewing All Connections
- 7 8. Deleting Selected Shares
- 8 8. Configuring Unix Networking
- 9 10. Configuring Windows Networking
- 10 11. Configuring Authentication
- 11 12. Configuring Windows to Unix Printing
- 12 14. Managing Samba Users
- 13 15. Restarting Samba Servers
- 14 16. Stopping Samba Servers
- 15 17. Restart Winbind Servers
- 16 19. Manage Security and Access Control in a CIFS Share
- 17 20. Verifying Access to the CIFS Share
1. Shared Files Grid
Field | Description |
|---|---|
Share Name | It is the name of the share. |
Path | It specifies the path that is shared. |
Security | It shows the type of security available for the share. |
2. Selecting All Shares
3. Inverting Selection
4. Creating a New File Share
Located along the top of the Samba File Sharing Wizard.
Before you start creating a new file share, it is better to configure the default windows network environment settings.
Select the first button and enter the name of the share that will appear as the network mount point in the Share Name text entry box.
The Directory to share is the path to the Volume that was created in the prior step. Click the Browse button to select the Volume from the filesystem for sharing.
Set the Automatically Create Directory field option to be Yes.
The Create with Owner field determines which Linux user will be assigned to the shared folder.
Enter the permission mask in the Create with Permissions text entry box.
The Create with Group field determines which Linux group will be assigned to the shared folder.
To make the share to be available on the network, check the Yes option in the Available field.
To make the share to be browsable on the network, check the Yes option in the Browsable field.
In the Share Comment text box, enter the comment if any to display to users who browse the share.
Once done, click the Create button.
5. Creating a New Printer Share
Located along the top of the Samba File Sharing Wizard.
In the Share name field, make sure the first button is selected and enter a unique alphanumeric name for your share into the text box.
From the Unix Printer field, select the printer to make available to SMB clients.
In the Spool directory field, enter or browse for the name of a directory in which temporary files for printing are stored.
To disable this printer so that it cannot be used, change the Available field to No.
To hide this printer from the list that appears when the server is browsed, change the Browseable field to No.
In the Share Comment field, enter a short description for this printer.
Once done, click the Create button.