Windows and Linux obviously are not natively compatible, and require some means of interactivity. Samba is a free suite of programs that allow Windows clients to access a server’s filespace and printers via the SMB (Server Message Block) and CIFS (Common Internet File System) protocols. SMB is a client server, request-response protocol for sharing files, printers, serial ports, and communications abstractions such as named pipes and mail slots between computers. All Windows 95/98/NT systems are running, or are capable of running SMB as a client, a server, or both. CIFS is a specification for a file access protocol designed for the Internet. It is based on the existing SMB protocol that Windows operating system uses for file and printer access. Basically, Samba acts as a file and print server between Linux and Windows, and may be used in large systems. It allows Linux servers to work much like a Windows NT server and adds functionality and flexibility to assist administrators. 

Two key limitations as a domain controller are it doesn’t yet support Windows NT trust relationships and so does not support single sign-on for users accessing resources in multiple domains, and it does not use BDC (Backup Domain Controller). Samba domains are stand alone entities though it can be a member server in an NT server hosted domain. It does not support trusts only when it is running as a primary domain controller. Being unable to use BDC, it means Samba hosted domains are not fault tolerant. Both of these limitations are due solutions in release 3.0 which is still in beta.

Samba permits you to connect to Linux disks and printers from LAN Manager clients, Windows 95/98/NT, OS/2, and SGI offers Samba for IRIX. 

Typically you create a Samba domain on a Linux system, and then add new domain client systems running Windows NT, or Windows 2000, or even 95/98. You use the normal tools in Windows after configuring Samba to automatically create machine accounts when needed. Samba also includes support for ACLs (Access Control Lists) on Solaris, AIX, UnixWare, Irix, FreeBSD, as well as Linux. 

A short list of some of Samba’s capabilities are:

• a NetBIOS (rfc1001/1002) nameserver which also gives browsing support. You can use Samba as the master browser on your LAN.
• ftp-like SMB client allowing access tp PC resources (discs and printers) from UNIX, NetWare and other operating systems
• tar extension to the client for backing up PCs
• limited command line tool that supports some of the administrative functionality

While Samba is basically a command line application, there are GUI interfaces available. I downloaded one.  Pretty impressive. It is known as KSamba, and allows easier configuration of Samba.

If you think that this is only a tiny niche application, think again. I have received e-mail from people who have read my reviews on Linux, and many of them have requested information on doing exactly what Samba does. At the time, I knew about Samba, but not enough details to suggest they check it out. Now, I point them to the above Web site. You can download Samba from the above Samba site, along with lots of documentation.

Don’t be bashful about trying out some of these non mainstream applications. Many of them work better, and most of them are free. Anything that makes using your computer easier, more efficient, and saves you money is well worth investigating.