Samba is an Open Source/Free Software suite that provides seamless file and print services to SMB/CIFS clients regardless which operating systems Linux, Unix, IBM system 390, Open VMS or Windows are based on. Samba can be run on multiple platforms including Microsoft Windows, UNIX, Linux, IBM System 390, OpenVMS, and other operating systems. Samba uses the TCP/IP protocol that is installed on the host server. When correctly configured, it allows that host to interact with a Microsoft Windows client or server as if it is a Windows file and print server. Samba is a software package that gives network administrators flexibility and freedom in terms of setup, configuration, and choice of systems and equipment.
Samba consists of two key programs, plus many other components. The two key programs are smbd and nmbd . Their job is to implement the following four basic modern-day CIFS services:
- File & print services
- Authentication and Authorization
- Name resolution
- Service announcement (browsing)
smbd is the server daemon that provides filesharing and printing services to Windows clients. The server provides filespace and printer services to clients using the SMB (or CIFS) protocol. This is compatible with the LanManager protocol, and can service LanManager clients. These include MSCLIENT 3.0 for DOS, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, OS/2, DAVE for Macintosh, and smbfs for Linux. nmbd is a server that understands and can reply to NetBIOS over IP name service requests, like those produced by SMB/CIFS clients such as Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and LanManager clients. It also participates in the browsing protocols which make up the Windows "Network Neighborhood" view.
Samba and Windows are not the only ones to provide CIFS networking. OS/2 supports SMB file and print sharing, and there are commercial CIFS products for Macintosh and other platforms (including several others for Unix). Samba has been ported to a variety of non-Unix operating systems, including VMS, AmigaOS, & NetWare. CIFS is also supported on dedicated file server platforms from a variety of vendors.
Samba: Free File Sharing Software among Linux, Unix and Windows Systems
Related Terms: Unix, Linux, Windows, SMB, CIFS
Reference Links: http://www.samba.org: Official site of Samba with documents and source codes