Share files between Linux (CentOS) and Windows (secured share)

I wanted to be able to share a folder between Linux and Windows. This was a nightmare regarding configuration and found everything possible on the net. I did not know really what to trust and did not want to read in detail the documentation since I would have to learn a lot of basic to get everything.

Whatever, I used Samba on CentOS 7 (CentOS Linux release 7.5.1804 (Core)).

Here the diffent steps I did with the source of info for the important things:

• Install Samba: sudo yum install samba samba-client samba-common
• Add samba to the firewall
  • sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-service=samba
  • sudo firewall-cmd --reload
• On windows : Check windows workgroup (usually ‘workgroup’): net config workstation
• Modify the config file
  • Make a backup of the samba config file sudo cp /etc/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.conf.orig
  • Modify it: sudo vi /etc/samba/smb.conf It should look like this ( to modify depending on you) This would be for a **secured share**.

[global]
	workgroup = WORKGROUP
	security = user
	printing = cups
	printcap name = cups
	load printers = yes
	cups options = raw
	netbios name = <nameofyourserver>

[etc]
	path = </path/ofyour/folder>
	valid users = @<etcshare>
	browsable = yes
	writable = yes
	guest ok = no
	read only = no

• Create user group: sudo groupadd etcshare
  • For troubleshooting : List group cut -d: -f1 /etc/group | sort
• Add user: csudo usermod -a -G etcshare <youruser>
  • For troubleshooting : Check getent group <etcshare>
• Change permission
  • sudo chmod -R 0770 </path/ofyour/folder>
    • sudo chown -R <youruser>:<etcshare> </path/ofyour/folder>
    • sudo chcon -t samba_share_t </path/ofyour/folder>
    • Highly important to be able to go in the sub-folders (https://medium.com/@brandboat/centos-smb-4-4-nt-status-access-denied-listing-a7e8ab72696e )
      • sudo setsebool -P samba_enable_home_dirs on
• Add password samba: sudo smbpasswd -a screener
  • For troubleshooting : List info user samba sudo pdbedit -L -v
• Test parameters: testparm
• Enable service at boot
  • sudo systemctl enable smb.service
  • sudo systemctl enable nmb.service
  • sudo systemctl start smb.service
  • sudo systemctl start nmb.service
  • To restart the service after some modif of the config file or other
    • sudo systemctl restart smb.service
    • sudo systemctl restart nmb.service

TROUBLESHOOTING

Try to connect first on CentOS, and navigate in sub-folders, check what is inside (ls). If you have an error ‘NT_STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED listing’, check the ‘setsebool’ smbclient \\\\<yourn netbios name in your config file>\\<basename of your folder>

If you have problem check your net use and delete if needed (windows, just for example): net use net use \<yourn netbios name in your config file>\<basename of your folder> /delete Or check in the Credentials manager (only way), sometimes windows keep info here and you do not see it with net use or net session (https://serverfault.com/questions/326255/how-can-i-clear-the-authentication-cache-in-windows-7-to-a-password-protected )

Source:

• https://www.tecmint.com/install-samba4-on-centos-7-for-file-sharing-on-windows/
• https://serverfault.com/questions/326255/how-can-i-clear-the-authentication-cache-in-windows-7-to-a-password-protected )
• https://medium.com/@brandboat/centos-smb-4-4-nt-status-access-denied-listing-a7e8ab72696e