How to set up a Samba file server and share files across a local network

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Samba is an implementation of the Server Message Block (SMB)/Common Internet File System (CIFS) protocol for Unix systems, providing support for cross-platform file and printer sharing with Microsoft Windows, OS X, and other Unix systems.

Prerequisite

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• Ubuntu Desktop version Operating system.
• Local Area Network[LAN] to share files.

IF you are using Ubuntu server and you would like to install Desktop GUI, please follow the instruction here

To install Samba

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Check for system updates and install them.

apt update

apt upgrade

Command to install Samba

apt install samba

To check if Samba installed correctly

whereis samba

Output:

samba: /usr/sbin/samba /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/samba /etc/samba /usr/share/samba /usr/share/man/man8/samba.8.gz /usr/share/man/man7/samba.7.gz

You can also install Samba from tasksel tool.

Lunch the tasksel

tasksel

A GUI interface will launch, Use the arrow key to scroll down the list and find Samba file server.

Note: Use the Space key to select it, press Tab to select OK at the bottom, then press Enter.

OutPut:

To configure Samba

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Create a directory to share

Note: Replace your Username in the following command.

mkdir /home/<username>/sambashare/

And the following lines the in the Samba configuration file /etc/samba/smb.conf

Command to open file

nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

Content to add the bottom of the file

Note: change the path according to yours.

[sambashare]
    comment = Samba on Ubuntu
    path = /home/username/sambashare
    read only = no
    browsable = yes

Next, restart the Samba server.

service smbd restart

Update the firewall rules to allow Samba.

ufw allow samba

To set up a Samba password for our user account.

smbpasswd -a username

To connect and share.

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Enter the following URL in the File manager to connect and share.

Note: *ip-address is the Samba server IP address.

smb://ip-address/sambashare

• Ubuntu: Open up the default file manager and click Connect to Server then enter
• Mac: In the Finder menu, click Go > Connect to Server then enter
• Windows: open up File Manager and edit the file path.