Install Samba on CentOS 7 for File Sharing

In our last article, You will learn how to install and configure Samba on CentOS 7 for file sharing between other Linux and Windows systems.

Step: 1 Install Samba Server

Use below command to install samba with necessary packages.

# yum install samba samba-common samba-client -y

Step 2: Check Windows Workgroup

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Before samba configurations, make sure Windows machine is in same workgroup.
open the cmd prompt in Windows machine and run the following command.

> net config workstation

Step 3: Samba Configuration

before configuration rename samba default configuration file /etc/samba/smb.conf as backup using below command.

# mv /etc/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.conf.default

Samba Anonymous File Sharing

Now create a shared folder on the server where all files/folders will be stored and set appropriate permissions on it and allow selinux for the samba configuration.

Run below commands

# mkdir -p /srv/samba/anonymous

# chmod -R 0755 /srv/samba/anonymous

# chown -R nobody:nobody /srv/samba/anonymous

# chcon -t samba_share_t /srv/samba/anonymous

Now make following changes in new samba configuration file.

# vi /etc/samba/smb.conf

[global]
workgroup = WORKGROUP
server string = Samba Server %v
netbios name = centos
security = user
map to guest = bad user
dns proxy = no

[Anonymous]
path = /srv/samba/anonymous
browsable =yes
writable = yes
guest ok = yes
read only = no

Run below commant to verify samba configurations

# testparm

Step 4: Start and Add Samba Services in firewall

Run below command to allow samba in firewall

# firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=samba

# firewall-cmd --reload

Run below command to start and enable samba services.

# systemctl start smb.service

# systemctl enable smb.service

# systemctl start nmb.service

# systemctl enable nmb.service

Step 5: Access Shared folder

Now you can access the Centos shared folder from windows, open Run prompt by pressing win + r key on your keyboard then type \\centos and press enter key.