Samba 4 storage on the network
Building Bridges

© Lead Image © Jens Stolt, 123RF.com
Since the release of the final version, Samba 4 has become increasingly significant in IT practice; now it has found its way into Jessie, the next Debian release. We take a look at the new features.
When Samba 3 was released in 2003, it consisted of three services: the file server smbd
, the name server nmbd
, and the authentication server winbind
. In their interaction with the rest of the system, these three services provided a file service and an NT4 domain controller.
The development of Samba 4 [1] completely changed this structure. Samba 4's support for an Active Directory domain means that it needs to provide a wider range of services: Classic NETBIOS name resolution was superseded by DNS, authentication was centralized using Kerberos, and centralized data storage was implemented via LDAP – only the file server remained the same, with changes to match the new structure.
For the first time, it's now possible to use Samba 4 to map a full Windows domain structure on Linux. The Debian Samba packages offer this possibility and prompt you at install time to decide the role the system will play on your network. I provisioned four systems in the lab: a virtual machine as a domain controller (Debian Jessie [2]), an openATTIC system [3] as a domain member (Debian Jessie), and two Windows clients as domain members (Windows 7/8).
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.