Create a file server with Linux
Creating an internal network with servers for sharing and distributing files, which allows remote printing and is able to talk so much with computers using Windows and Linux is a simpler task than It seems. But to do that, you need to know Samba. In this post you will learn a little more about the Samba server, how it works, and why it can help companies and small networks share data. Follow:
What is Samba?
Samba is an open source software that works as a server on Linux and Unix systems, and facilitates the sharing and distribution of data on networks that also communicate with computers using Windows. Since it is common for IT systems to work with platforms created for Linux, the use of Samba is essential to allow files to be transferred and printed over the network between these different operating systems. It was created in 1992 by the Australian Andrew Tridgell when he felt the need to set up disk space for a Unix server within the DOS system - Windows - and has since been updated by the open source community with new features, more security and better stability. ### What does Samba do?
Simply put, Samba is responsible for services such as: - File access and print services;
- User authorization and authentication;
- File system navigation.
But in addition to its basic functions, Samba received updates to facilitate services that would normally take a long time, such as the use of DHCP, which allows the software to send new network configurations automatically to all connected devices, thus avoiding the need for manual configuration. The Samba network system works with authentication, so that it is possible to protect specific files or folders using user authorization or passwords. When a file is placed on the network, there is also the option to share the data with specific people (in share mode), where the password for access is sent only to those who can view the file. Samba can also be accessed through a web browser, which is done from a SWAT (Samba Web Administration Tool) system, which can connect directly from the server to a Windows Server system, and can also be used as FTP with Ubuntu. Updated versions, such as Samba 4, already dispense with the Microsoft server system and also work as an Active Directory (AD) - one of the main options for environments that only work with Windows - which is a good alternative to cut the costs of expensive licenses. ### The advantages of Samba
Samba is widely used on networks that communicate with devices that work with versions of Linux aimed at ordinary users - such as Ubuntu - and that need to exchange files with Windows. We can summarize the various advantages of using the system in a few topics: - It’s free: because it is free software, Samba works with a license that allows its full use free of charge, regardless of the size of the company or server;
- It is open: because it is part of the open source initiative, Samba allows major changes to the code, making it more open to new features;
- Talk with different operating systems: the most basic feature of Samba is to promote the exchange of files between different systems;
- Allows access control: Samba allows the creation of users - or groups of users - who can create and access specific password-controlled files.
- Can be used as FTP: in Ubuntu, Samba can be used as an FTP server for remote file control.