Cannot see samba server or access samba shares from Windows

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Qub1
Posts: 1
Joined: 2016/05/19 20:08:21

Cannot see samba server or access samba shares from Windows

Post by Qub1 » 2016/05/19 20:15:39

Hey everyone,

I've been setting up my home server using CentOS 7 and Webmin. I've installed the samba package and configured it, and it has been started.
Now, on my Windows machine running Windows 10 x64, I can't see the server in the Network section of explorer. It just isn't listed. However, when I manually enter the server's IP (\\192.168.1.50) it does connect. I then login with the only user I have set up for samba, which is qub1, which is linked to the user qub1 in webmin. It then shows the shares I have enabled on the server, which are qub1, homes and Media.
However, when I try to open a share it gives me an error message saying

Code: Select all

Windows cannot access \\192.168.1.50\Media
You do not have permission to access \\192.168.1.50\Media. Contact your network administrator to request access.
Which is weird, since the user qub1 is the owner of /home/media (where the share is located), and has full read, write and execute permissions.

My Samba config:

Code: Select all

# This is the main Samba configuration file. For detailed information about the
# options listed here, refer to the smb.conf(5) manual page. Samba has a huge
# number of configurable options, most of which are not shown in this example.
#
# The Official Samba 3.2.x HOWTO and Reference Guide contains step-by-step
# guides for installing, configuring, and using Samba:
# http://www.samba.org/samba/docs/Samba-HOWTO-Collection.pdf
#
# The Samba-3 by Example guide has working examples for smb.conf. This guide is
# generated daily: http://www.samba.org/samba/docs/Samba-Guide.pdf
#
# In this file, lines starting with a semicolon (;) or a hash (#) are
# comments and are ignored. This file uses hashes to denote commentary and
# semicolons for parts of the file you may wish to configure.
#
# Note: Run the "testparm" command after modifying this file to check for basic
# syntax errors.
#
#---------------
# Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) Notes:
#
# Turn the samba_domain_controller Boolean on to allow Samba to use the useradd
# and groupadd family of binaries. Run the following command as the root user to
# turn this Boolean on:
# setsebool -P samba_domain_controller on
#
# Turn the samba_enable_home_dirs Boolean on if you want to share home
# directories via Samba. Run the following command as the root user to turn this
# Boolean on:
# setsebool -P samba_enable_home_dirs on
#
# If you create a new directory, such as a new top-level directory, label it
# with samba_share_t so that SELinux allows Samba to read and write to it. Do
# not label system directories, such as /etc/ and /home/, with samba_share_t, as
# such directories should already have an SELinux label.
#
# Run the "ls -ldZ /path/to/directory" command to view the current SELinux
# label for a given directory.
#
# Set SELinux labels only on files and directories you have created. Use the
# chcon command to temporarily change a label:
# chcon -t samba_share_t /path/to/directory
#
# Changes made via chcon are lost when the file system is relabeled or commands
# such as restorecon are run.
#
# Use the samba_export_all_ro or samba_export_all_rw Boolean to share system
# directories. To share such directories and only allow read-only permissions:
# setsebool -P samba_export_all_ro on
# To share such directories and allow read and write permissions:
# setsebool -P samba_export_all_rw on
#
# To run scripts (preexec/root prexec/print command/...), copy them to the
# /var/lib/samba/scripts/ directory so that SELinux will allow smbd to run them.
# Note that if you move the scripts to /var/lib/samba/scripts/, they retain
# their existing SELinux labels, which may be labels that SELinux does not allow
# smbd to run. Copying the scripts will result in the correct SELinux labels.
# Run the "restorecon -R -v /var/lib/samba/scripts" command as the root user to
# apply the correct SELinux labels to these files.
#
#--------------
#
#======================= Global Settings =====================================

[global]
	log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
	netbios name = qub1-server
	load printers = yes
	cups options = raw
	server string = Samba Server Version %v
	workgroup = WORKGROUP
	os level = 20
	security = user
	passdb backend = tdbsam
	max log size = 50

# ----------------------- Network-Related Options -------------------------
#
# workgroup = the Windows NT domain name or workgroup name, for example, MYGROUP.
#
# server string = the equivalent of the Windows NT Description field.
#
# netbios name = used to specify a server name that is not tied to the hostname.
#
# interfaces = used to configure Samba to listen on multiple network interfaces.
# If you have multiple interfaces, you can use the "interfaces =" option to
# configure which of those interfaces Samba listens on. Never omit the localhost
# interface (lo).
#
# hosts allow = the hosts allowed to connect. This option can also be used on a
# per-share basis.
#
# hosts deny = the hosts not allowed to connect. This option can also be used on
# a per-share basis.
#
# max protocol = used to define the supported protocol. The default is NT1. You
# can set it to SMB2 if you want experimental SMB2 support.
#

;	netbios name = MYSERVER

;	interfaces = lo eth0 192.168.12.2/24 192.168.13.2/24
;	hosts allow = 127. 192.168.12. 192.168.13.

;	max protocol = SMB2

# --------------------------- Logging Options -----------------------------
#
# log file = specify where log files are written to and how they are split.
#
# max log size = specify the maximum size log files are allowed to reach. Log
# files are rotated when they reach the size specified with "max log size".
#

	# log files split per-machine:
	# maximum size of 50KB per log file, then rotate:

# ----------------------- Standalone Server Options ------------------------
#
# security = the mode Samba runs in. This can be set to user, share
# (deprecated), or server (deprecated).
#
# passdb backend = the backend used to store user information in. New
# installations should use either tdbsam or ldapsam. No additional configuration
# is required for tdbsam. The "smbpasswd" utility is available for backwards
# compatibility.
#



# ----------------------- Domain Members Options ------------------------
#
# security = must be set to domain or ads.
#
# passdb backend = the backend used to store user information in. New
# installations should use either tdbsam or ldapsam. No additional configuration
# is required for tdbsam. The "smbpasswd" utility is available for backwards
# compatibility.
#
# realm = only use the realm option when the "security = ads" option is set.
# The realm option specifies the Active Directory realm the host is a part of.
#
# password server = only use this option when the "security = server"
# option is set, or if you cannot use DNS to locate a Domain Controller. The
# argument list can include My_PDC_Name, [My_BDC_Name], and [My_Next_BDC_Name]:
#
# password server = My_PDC_Name [My_BDC_Name] [My_Next_BDC_Name]
#
# Use "password server = *" to automatically locate Domain Controllers.

;	security = domain
;	passdb backend = tdbsam
;	realm = MY_REALM

;	password server = <NT-Server-Name>

# ----------------------- Domain Controller Options ------------------------
#
# security = must be set to user for domain controllers.
#
# passdb backend = the backend used to store user information in. New
# installations should use either tdbsam or ldapsam. No additional configuration
# is required for tdbsam. The "smbpasswd" utility is available for backwards
# compatibility.
#
# domain master = specifies Samba to be the Domain Master Browser, allowing
# Samba to collate browse lists between subnets. Do not use the "domain master"
# option if you already have a Windows NT domain controller performing this task.
#
# domain logons = allows Samba to provide a network logon service for Windows
# workstations.
#
# logon script = specifies a script to run at login time on the client. These
# scripts must be provided in a share named NETLOGON.
#
# logon path = specifies (with a UNC path) where user profiles are stored.
#
#
;	security = user
;	passdb backend = tdbsam

;	domain master = yes
;	domain logons = yes

	# the following login script name is determined by the machine name
	# (%m):
;	logon script = %m.bat
	# the following login script name is determined by the UNIX user used:
;	logon script = %u.bat
;	logon path = \\%L\Profiles\%u
	# use an empty path to disable profile support:
;	logon path =

	# various scripts can be used on a domain controller or a stand-alone
	# machine to add or delete corresponding UNIX accounts:

;	add user script = /usr/sbin/useradd "%u" -n -g users
;	add group script = /usr/sbin/groupadd "%g"
;	add machine script = /usr/sbin/useradd -n -c "Workstation (%u)" -M -d /nohome -s /bin/false "%u"
;	delete user script = /usr/sbin/userdel "%u"
;	delete user from group script = /usr/sbin/userdel "%u" "%g"
;	delete group script = /usr/sbin/groupdel "%g"


# ----------------------- Browser Control Options ----------------------------
#
# local master = when set to no, Samba does not become the master browser on
# your network. When set to yes, normal election rules apply.
#
# os level = determines the precedence the server has in master browser
# elections. The default value should be reasonable.
#
# preferred master = when set to yes, Samba forces a local browser election at
# start up (and gives itself a slightly higher chance of winning the election).
#
;	local master = no
;	os level = 33
;	preferred master = yes

#----------------------------- Name Resolution -------------------------------
#
# This section details the support for the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS).
#
# Note: Samba can be either a WINS server or a WINS client, but not both.
#
# wins support = when set to yes, the NMBD component of Samba enables its WINS
# server.
#
# wins server = tells the NMBD component of Samba to be a WINS client.
#
# wins proxy = when set to yes, Samba answers name resolution queries on behalf
# of a non WINS capable client. For this to work, there must be at least one
# WINS server on the network. The default is no.
#
# dns proxy = when set to yes, Samba attempts to resolve NetBIOS names via DNS
# nslookups.

;	wins support = yes
;	wins server = w.x.y.z
;	wins proxy = yes

;	dns proxy = yes

# --------------------------- Printing Options -----------------------------
#
# The options in this section allow you to configure a non-default printing
# system.
#
# load printers = when set you yes, the list of printers is automatically
# loaded, rather than setting them up individually.
#
# cups options = allows you to pass options to the CUPS library. Setting this
# option to raw, for example, allows you to use drivers on your Windows clients.
#
# printcap name = used to specify an alternative printcap file.
#


;	printcap name = /etc/printcap
	# obtain a list of printers automatically on UNIX System V systems:
;	printcap name = lpstat
;	printing = cups

# --------------------------- File System Options ---------------------------
#
# The options in this section can be un-commented if the file system supports
# extended attributes, and those attributes are enabled (usually via the
# "user_xattr" mount option). These options allow the administrator to specify
# that DOS attributes are stored in extended attributes and also make sure that
# Samba does not change the permission bits.
#
# Note: These options can be used on a per-share basis. Setting them globally
# (in the [global] section) makes them the default for all shares.

;	map archive = no
;	map hidden = no
;	map read only = no
;	map system = no
;	store dos attributes = yes


#============================ Share Definitions ==============================

[homes]
	comment = Home Directories
	writeable = yes
;	valid users = %S
;	valid users = MYDOMAIN\%S

[printers]
	comment = All Printers
	path = /var/spool/samba
	browseable = no
	guest ok = no
	writable = no
	printable = yes

# Un-comment the following and create the netlogon directory for Domain Logons:
;	[netlogon]
;	comment = Network Logon Service
;	path = /var/lib/samba/netlogon
;	guest ok = yes
;	writable = no
;	share modes = no

# Un-comment the following to provide a specific roving profile share.
# The default is to use the user's home directory:
;	[Profiles]
;	path = /var/lib/samba/profiles
;	browseable = no
;	guest ok = yes

# A publicly accessible directory that is read only, except for users in the
# "staff" group (which have write permissions):
;	[public]
;	comment = Public Stuff
;	path = /home/samba
;	public = yes
;	writable = yes
;	printable = no
;	write list = +staff

[Media]
	path = /home/qub1/media
So my questions actually boil down to:
  • How can I get the samba server to show up in the network section on Windows?
  • How can I access the shares on my samba server?
Thanks for any help!

rbstern
Posts: 4
Joined: 2016/05/20 17:22:21

Re: Cannot see samba server or access samba shares from Windows

Post by rbstern » 2016/05/20 17:40:43

A few questions about your setup:

- Did you address FirewallID and SELinux in your setup? Helpful:

http://www.tecmint.com/setup-samba-file ... s-clients/

- Is your Windows workgroup named "WORKGROUP"? If not, change the Samba config to match your workgroup's name.

- Did you start (or restart) the nmb service after you configured Samba?

- What are the permissions on your /home/qub1/media folder? Set to 0777 to start, and then tighten as needed once you have access.

- You may want to change your Media share config to:

[Media]
path = /home/qub1/media
browsable =yes
writable = yes
guest ok = yes
read only = no

I found it easiest to start with Samba while having security settings wide open, and then add security (Firewall, SELinux, file permissions, Samba config), back in while testing for both read and write access on your share as you go.

User avatar
TrevorH
Site Admin
Posts: 33216
Joined: 2009/09/24 10:40:56
Location: Brighton, UK

Re: Cannot see samba server or access samba shares from Windows

Post by TrevorH » 2016/05/20 19:10:32

Did you read the bit in the smb.conf that you posted about "# Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) Notes:"?
The future appears to be RHEL or Debian. I think I'm going Debian.
Info for USB installs on http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/InstallFromUSBkey
CentOS 5 and 6 are deadest, do not use them.
Use the FAQ Luke

poky
Posts: 108
Joined: 2013/03/27 12:18:03

Re: Cannot see samba server or access samba shares from Windows

Post by poky » 2016/05/22 16:13:20

1. /etc/samba/smb.conf:
[global]
map to guest = Bad User

2. Temporaly disable (set to permissive mode) SELinux - as root in command line:
setenforce 0
Enable SELinux back:
setenforce 1

Johnny5
Posts: 2
Joined: 2016/05/18 13:53:28

Re: Cannot see samba server or access samba shares from Windows

Post by Johnny5 » 2016/12/22 03:40:44

poky wrote: 2. Temporaly disable (set to permissive mode) SELinux - as root in command line:
setenforce 0
Enable SELinux back:
setenforce 1
I tried the SELinux suggestion above and was amazed to see it worked, tyvm. I finally know what has prevented my samba shares from working on my Windows machines.

User avatar
TrevorH
Site Admin
Posts: 33216
Joined: 2009/09/24 10:40:56
Location: Brighton, UK

Re: Cannot see samba server or access samba shares from Windows

Post by TrevorH » 2016/12/22 09:19:11

Running setenforce 0 is only a temporary solution. To fix it properly you need to read the comments in the default smb.conf and label the files/directories correctly.

Code: Select all

# Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) Notes:
#
# Turn the samba_domain_controller Boolean on to allow Samba to use the useradd
# and groupadd family of binaries. Run the following command as the root user to
# turn this Boolean on:
# setsebool -P samba_domain_controller on
#
# Turn the samba_enable_home_dirs Boolean on if you want to share home
# directories via Samba. Run the following command as the root user to turn this
# Boolean on:
# setsebool -P samba_enable_home_dirs on
#
# If you create a new directory, such as a new top-level directory, label it
# with samba_share_t so that SELinux allows Samba to read and write to it. Do
# not label system directories, such as /etc/ and /home/, with samba_share_t, as
# such directories should already have an SELinux label.
#
# Run the "ls -ldZ /path/to/directory" command to view the current SELinux
# label for a given directory.
#
# Set SELinux labels only on files and directories you have created. Use the
# chcon command to temporarily change a label:
# chcon -t samba_share_t /path/to/directory
#
# Changes made via chcon are lost when the file system is relabeled or commands
# such as restorecon are run.
#
# Use the samba_export_all_ro or samba_export_all_rw Boolean to share system
# directories. To share such directories and only allow read-only permissions:
# setsebool -P samba_export_all_ro on
# To share such directories and allow read and write permissions:
# setsebool -P samba_export_all_rw on
#
# To run scripts (preexec/root prexec/print command/...), copy them to the
# /var/lib/samba/scripts/ directory so that SELinux will allow smbd to run them.
# Note that if you move the scripts to /var/lib/samba/scripts/, they retain
# their existing SELinux labels, which may be labels that SELinux does not allow
# smbd to run. Copying the scripts will result in the correct SELinux labels.
# Run the "restorecon -R -v /var/lib/samba/scripts" command as the root user to
# apply the correct SELinux labels to these files.
The future appears to be RHEL or Debian. I think I'm going Debian.
Info for USB installs on http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/InstallFromUSBkey
CentOS 5 and 6 are deadest, do not use them.
Use the FAQ Luke

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