Storing XP ID/password on mapped drive link to Linux Sama server

I have a home peer-to-peer LAN of XP Pro desktops set as a workgroup. I've
recently added a Linux desktop to this environment, that is running Samba.

On each XP desktop I map a logical drive to that users Linux Samba area.
However, I cannot find a way of having XP store the Samba server
login/password combination.

Each time I try to access this mapped drive it prompts me for the login
ID/password. There is no 'save' option on the login dialog.

Is it possible to configure the mapped drive login parameters so that the
connection is automatic?

That describes my setup too. The answer depends on how often you
change your Windows password. If the answer (like me) is rarely
(although I do have a separate administrator login on the Windows
boxes) then it's relatively simple. Have look at the smb.conf below.
Works for me. If you need to have the linux box track paassword
changes on the Windows boxes that is possible too but with a bit more
effort.

The critical thing is to have your Windows and Linux users and
passwords identical at the start.


/etc/samba/smb.conf
[global]
workgroup = HOMELAN
encrypt passwords = yes
wins support = yes
local master = yes
server string = Mercury Server
printcap name = /etc/printcap
load printers = yes
printing = cups
cups options = raw
log file = /var/log/samba/%m.log
max log size = 50
security = user
socket options = TCP_NODELAY SO_RCVBUF=8192 SO_SNDBUF=8192

<-- snipped a stack of defults -->
#============================ Share Definitions
==============================
idmap uid = 16777216-33554431
idmap gid = 16777216-33554431
template shell = /bin/false
winbind use default domain = no
[homes]
comment = Home Directories
browseable = no
writable = yes
read only = no
map archive = no

[printers]
comment = All Printers
path = /var/spool/samba
browseable = yes
public = yes
guest ok = no
writable = no
printable = yes
use client driver = yes

[tmp]
comment = Temporary file space
path = /tmp
read only = no
public = yes


# Individual backup directories for Windows machines
# Make sure the Windows user is set up on this machine and owns the
directories

[Rogerbackup]
comment = Roger's backups
path = /home/Roger/backup
valid users = Roger
public = no
writable = yes
printable = no
[Rogerarchive]
comment = Roger's archive
path = /home/Roger/archive
valid users = Roger
public = no
writable = yes
printable = no
[Juliabackup]
comment = Julia's backups
path = /home/Julia/backup
valid users = Julia
public = no
writable = yes
printable = no




On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 07:15:27 -0000, "davout"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I have a home peer-to-peer LAN of XP Pro desktops set as a workgroup. I've
>recently added a Linux desktop to this environment, that is running Samba.
>
>On each XP desktop I map a logical drive to that users Linux Samba area.
>However, I cannot find a way of having XP store the Samba server
>login/password combination.
>
>Each time I try to access this mapped drive it prompts me for the login
>ID/password. There is no 'save' option on the login dialog.
>
>Is it possible to configure the mapped drive login parameters so that the
>connection is automatic?
>
>

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 08:57:51 +0000, WhiteDwarf <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>That describes my setup too. The answer depends on how often you
>change your Windows password. If the answer (like me) is rarely
>(although I do have a separate administrator login on the Windows
>boxes) then it's relatively simple. Have look at the smb.conf below.
>Works for me. If you need to have the linux box track paassword
>changes on the Windows boxes that is possible too but with a bit more
>effort.
>
>The critical thing is to have your Windows and Linux users and
>passwords identical at the start.
>

Unix ( at least Solaris does) limits username length to 8 characters,
so if your Windows usernames are longer you will need to create a
SAMBA "map" file on the Linux box. This is a simple text file and esay
todo.

You might also consider whether in your particular scenario you need
password protection at all on the LINUX box ? (You can restrict access
to specific shares by IP address)

Robert

My Windows password is different to the password created to enable Samba
access

"WhiteDwarf" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> That describes my setup too. The answer depends on how often you
> change your Windows password. If the answer (like me) is rarely
> (although I do have a separate administrator login on the Windows
> boxes) then it's relatively simple. Have look at the smb.conf below.
> Works for me. If you need to have the linux box track paassword
> changes on the Windows boxes that is possible too but with a bit more
> effort.
>
> The critical thing is to have your Windows and Linux users and
> passwords identical at the start.
>
>
> /etc/samba/smb.conf
> [global]
> workgroup = HOMELAN
> encrypt passwords = yes
> wins support = yes
> local master = yes
> server string = Mercury Server
> printcap name = /etc/printcap
> load printers = yes
> printing = cups
> cups options = raw
> log file = /var/log/samba/%m.log
> max log size = 50
> security = user
> socket options = TCP_NODELAY SO_RCVBUF=8192 SO_SNDBUF=8192
>
> <-- snipped a stack of defults -->
> #============================ Share Definitions
> ==============================
> idmap uid = 16777216-33554431
> idmap gid = 16777216-33554431
> template shell = /bin/false
> winbind use default domain = no
> [homes]
> comment = Home Directories
> browseable = no
> writable = yes
> read only = no
> map archive = no
>
> [printers]
> comment = All Printers
> path = /var/spool/samba
> browseable = yes
> public = yes
> guest ok = no
> writable = no
> printable = yes
> use client driver = yes
>
> [tmp]
> comment = Temporary file space
> path = /tmp
> read only = no
> public = yes
>
>
> # Individual backup directories for Windows machines
> # Make sure the Windows user is set up on this machine and owns the
> directories
>
> [Rogerbackup]
> comment = Roger's backups
> path = /home/Roger/backup
> valid users = Roger
> public = no
> writable = yes
> printable = no
> [Rogerarchive]
> comment = Roger's archive
> path = /home/Roger/archive
> valid users = Roger
> public = no
> writable = yes
> printable = no
> [Juliabackup]
> comment = Julia's backups
> path = /home/Julia/backup
> valid users = Julia
> public = no
> writable = yes
> printable = no
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 07:15:27 -0000, "davout"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I have a home peer-to-peer LAN of XP Pro desktops set as a workgroup.
>>I've
>>recently added a Linux desktop to this environment, that is running Samba.
>>
>>On each XP desktop I map a logical drive to that users Linux Samba area.
>>However, I cannot find a way of having XP store the Samba server
>>login/password combination.
>>
>>Each time I try to access this mapped drive it prompts me for the login
>>ID/password. There is no 'save' option on the login dialog.
>>
>>Is it possible to configure the mapped drive login parameters so that the
>>connection is automatic?
>>
>>
>

That foxed me for a while too, got exactly the problem you are
describing. Try using passwd as root to set the Linux users to
exactly the same as the Windows ones.


On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 14:22:45 -0000, "davout"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>My Windows password is different to the password created to enable Samba
>access
>
>"WhiteDwarf" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> That describes my setup too. The answer depends on how often you
>> change your Windows password. If the answer (like me) is rarely
>> (although I do have a separate administrator login on the Windows
>> boxes) then it's relatively simple. Have look at the smb.conf below.
>> Works for me. If you need to have the linux box track paassword
>> changes on the Windows boxes that is possible too but with a bit more
>> effort.
>>
>> The critical thing is to have your Windows and Linux users and
>> passwords identical at the start.
>>
>>
>> /etc/samba/smb.conf
>> [global]
>> workgroup = HOMELAN
>> encrypt passwords = yes
>> wins support = yes
>> local master = yes
>> server string = Mercury Server
>> printcap name = /etc/printcap
>> load printers = yes
>> printing = cups
>> cups options = raw
>> log file = /var/log/samba/%m.log
>> max log size = 50
>> security = user
>> socket options = TCP_NODELAY SO_RCVBUF=8192 SO_SNDBUF=8192
>>
>> <-- snipped a stack of defults -->
>> #============================ Share Definitions
>> ==============================
>> idmap uid = 16777216-33554431
>> idmap gid = 16777216-33554431
>> template shell = /bin/false
>> winbind use default domain = no
>> [homes]
>> comment = Home Directories
>> browseable = no
>> writable = yes
>> read only = no
>> map archive = no
>>
>> [printers]
>> comment = All Printers
>> path = /var/spool/samba
>> browseable = yes
>> public = yes
>> guest ok = no
>> writable = no
>> printable = yes
>> use client driver = yes
>>
>> [tmp]
>> comment = Temporary file space
>> path = /tmp
>> read only = no
>> public = yes
>>
>>
>> # Individual backup directories for Windows machines
>> # Make sure the Windows user is set up on this machine and owns the
>> directories
>>
>> [Rogerbackup]
>> comment = Roger's backups
>> path = /home/Roger/backup
>> valid users = Roger
>> public = no
>> writable = yes
>> printable = no
>> [Rogerarchive]
>> comment = Roger's archive
>> path = /home/Roger/archive
>> valid users = Roger
>> public = no
>> writable = yes
>> printable = no
>> [Juliabackup]
>> comment = Julia's backups
>> path = /home/Julia/backup
>> valid users = Julia
>> public = no
>> writable = yes
>> printable = no
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 07:15:27 -0000, "davout"
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>>I have a home peer-to-peer LAN of XP Pro desktops set as a workgroup.
>>>I've
>>>recently added a Linux desktop to this environment, that is running Samba.
>>>
>>>On each XP desktop I map a logical drive to that users Linux Samba area.
>>>However, I cannot find a way of having XP store the Samba server
>>>login/password combination.
>>>
>>>Each time I try to access this mapped drive it prompts me for the login
>>>ID/password. There is no 'save' option on the login dialog.
>>>
>>>Is it possible to configure the mapped drive login parameters so that the
>>>connection is automatic?
>>>
>>>
>>
>

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 15:35:23 +0000, WhiteDwarf <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>That foxed me for a while too, got exactly the problem you are
>describing. Try using passwd as root to set the Linux users to
>exactly the same as the Windows ones.

>>>
>>>>I have a home peer-to-peer LAN of XP Pro desktops set as a workgroup.
>>>>I've
>>>>recently added a Linux desktop to this environment, that is running Samba.
>>>>
>>>>On each XP desktop I map a logical drive to that users Linux Samba area.
>>>>However, I cannot find a way of having XP store the Samba server
>>>>login/password combination.
>>>>
>>>>Each time I try to access this mapped drive it prompts me for the login
>>>>ID/password. There is no 'save' option on the login dialog.
>>>>
>>>>Is it possible to configure the mapped drive login parameters so that the
>>>>connection is automatic?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>

In case you had overlooked the fact:

There are 2 passwords associated with SAMBA.

UNIX/LINUX one set by passwd command

and

SAMBA one set by smbpasswd.

They aren't synchronised.

All SAMBA users need a UNIX account if you want to use passwords.

Once you have got all the UNIX passwords set you can create the
smbpasswd file automatically without reentering the passwords.

Robert

Where do I store this.

From the XP desktop I'm trying to access a mapped drive (that equates to the
Linux Samba server) from File Explorer?


<robert> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 15:35:23 +0000, WhiteDwarf <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>That foxed me for a while too, got exactly the problem you are
>>describing. Try using passwd as root to set the Linux users to
>>exactly the same as the Windows ones.
>
>>>>
>>>>>I have a home peer-to-peer LAN of XP Pro desktops set as a workgroup.
>>>>>I've
>>>>>recently added a Linux desktop to this environment, that is running
>>>>>Samba.
>>>>>
>>>>>On each XP desktop I map a logical drive to that users Linux Samba
>>>>>area.
>>>>>However, I cannot find a way of having XP store the Samba server
>>>>>login/password combination.
>>>>>
>>>>>Each time I try to access this mapped drive it prompts me for the login
>>>>>ID/password. There is no 'save' option on the login dialog.
>>>>>
>>>>>Is it possible to configure the mapped drive login parameters so that
>>>>>the
>>>>>connection is automatic?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>
> In case you had overlooked the fact:
>
> There are 2 passwords associated with SAMBA.
>
> UNIX/LINUX one set by passwd command
>
> and
>
> SAMBA one set by smbpasswd.
>
> They aren't synchronised.
>
> All SAMBA users need a UNIX account if you want to use passwords.
>
> Once you have got all the UNIX passwords set you can create the
> smbpasswd file automatically without reentering the passwords.
>
> Robert

davout wrote:
> I have a home peer-to-peer LAN of XP Pro desktops set as a workgroup. I've
> recently added a Linux desktop to this environment, that is running Samba.
>
> On each XP desktop I map a logical drive to that users Linux Samba area.
> However, I cannot find a way of having XP store the Samba server
> login/password combination.
>
> Each time I try to access this mapped drive it prompts me for the login
> ID/password. There is no 'save' option on the login dialog.
>
> Is it possible to configure the mapped drive login parameters so that the
> connection is automatic?
>
>
>
Unless I am missing the point here, all you have to do when you make the
drive mapping is select 'connect using a different user name' and then
specify the samba-assigned user name and password. Next, just tick
'reconnect at logon'

On Wed, 22 Feb 2006 03:32:52 +0000, Linker3000
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>davout wrote:
>> I have a home peer-to-peer LAN of XP Pro desktops set as a workgroup. I've
>> recently added a Linux desktop to this environment, that is running Samba.
>>
>> On each XP desktop I map a logical drive to that users Linux Samba area.
>> However, I cannot find a way of having XP store the Samba server
>> login/password combination.
>>
>> Each time I try to access this mapped drive it prompts me for the login
>> ID/password. There is no 'save' option on the login dialog.
>>
>> Is it possible to configure the mapped drive login parameters so that the
>> connection is automatic?
>>
>>
>>
>Unless I am missing the point here, all you have to do when you make the
>drive mapping is select 'connect using a different user name' and then
>specify the samba-assigned user name and password. Next, just tick
>'reconnect at logon'


True

Do you really need password protection on the SAMBA files server ?
ARe users access to specific files going to be restricted ?

If not think about setting SAMBA up to give "public" access - will
make life alot easier in future if people change windows passwords
etc.

Robert